Supreme Hope had to skip the Newbury race due to testing ground conditions, but Tellherthename is now fully prepared for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Trainer Ben Pauling holds this highly talented novice in great esteem, with two impressive victories out of four starts, notably at Huntingdon.
The Megson family, who own the five-year-old, always had the Cheltenham Festival opener in mind. However, Pauling had planned for a stopover at Newbury to take advantage of a favourable rating of 135. Unfortunately, persistent rain leading up to the prestigious handicap caused heavy conditions in Berkshire. Consequently, the decision was made to forgo the Newbury race and focus solely on the primary objective at Prestbury Park, ensuring that Tellherthename would not endure a gruelling race prior to the main event.
Pauling expressed the irony of missing out on the valuable Betfair Hurdle, a race that requires careful consideration. However, he highlighted that the Supreme Novices' Hurdle holds a special place in their sport as one of the blue riband events. The Megson family were keen to preserve the horse's potential for this significant occasion, rather than risking a more demanding race in the Betfair Hurdle before Cheltenham.
Despite the change in plans, Tellherthename is in magnificent form, comfortably settled in his stable. The focus now shifts to preparing him for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. With three previous successes at the Cheltenham Festival, Pauling heads to the renowned meeting with a promising team of novice talents, including Handstands, who secured an impressive victory in the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle. Additionally, there are other notable prospects such as Fiercely Proud and The Jukebox Man, who finished third in the Challow Hurdle.
"We currently have a group of novices displaying great potential and progress. It's truly gratifying to have such talented young horses,"
Pauling remarked.
Reflecting on Handstands' performance, he expressed satisfaction with the horse's performance at Huntingdon and the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle. Despite limited previous victories, Ben Jones, the jockey who rode Handstands twice before, believed there was untapped potential. The horse's recent victory confirmed this, as he comfortably sealed the race and left room for further improvement.