Beer Goggles aiming for Cheltenham success days after passing of Richard Woollacott

BEER GOGGLES will bid to bring the house down at Cheltenham on Saturday in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle.

The progressive seven-year-old, winner of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his last start, will run just days after the sad death of his trainer Richard Woollacott at the age of 40.

Running under the name of his wife Kayley, a win for Beer Goggles in the Grade 2 hurdle would undoubtedly prove an emotional and popular victory at Prestbury Park.

The decision to take up his entry was left solely to Woollacott's family, with part-owner Nicky Martin happy to go along with whatever outcome was reached.

"Obviously it's going to be very emotional," said Martin.

"What we did was speak to the family and we left the decision totally to them, we were quite happy not to run so it was down to them.

"It's going to be an incredibly sad day whatever the outcome. Richard did a lot of work with the horse, and I'm sure he'd have wanted him to run.

"We've seen and heard the amount of goodwill behind the horse tomorrow.

"He's such a lovely little horse, Newbury was unbelievable, to beat horses like Unowhatimeanharry and Thistlecrack. The main thing is that he comes home safely.

"Richard was a personal friend, we go back a long way through point-to-pointing so it's been a very traumatic week."

Beer Goggles lines up as the highest-rated runner and is looking to cement his Stayers' Hurdle claims.

Colin Tizzard's Finian's Oscar is an intriguing runner in the race on his return to hurdles after an indifferent novice chasing campaign.

A leading novice hurdler last season, injury meant he missed the Festival but he won at Aintree and was second at Punchestown.

"Nothing came to light after Newbury and he was right back to his best last time," said Twiston-Davies.

"It was just one bad run, a bad day at the office, everyone is allowed one of those.

"Other than Newbury he has been the most consistent horse so I can forgive him one bad run and last time he was very good."

Ellmarie Holden will be hoping for a less eventful run from Ex Patriot than on his last visit to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle when he got loose before the race but still finished fourth.

"It was a long journey over, but he's been out on the track and seems fine," said Holden.

"He ran twice in four days over Christmas, winning at Limerick and then finishing second to Killultagh Vic at Punchestown.

"He's improving with each race, he's only five and is slowly getting there. Hopefully he'll run well."

The Nick Williams-trained Agrapart finished second behind Wholestone at this course on New Year's Day.

His assistant trainer Jane Williams said: "Agrapart loves Cheltenham and his two career-best runs have come in the Relkeel Hurdle - he won it the first year and was second this year.

"The ground is soft, which he loves, and the step up to three miles should not be a problem."

Nicky Henderson's Thomas Campbell and Tom George's The Worlds End add further strength in depth, along with Fergal O'Brien's mare, Colin's Sister.