Hurdler prepares to change the distance in pursuit of Cheltenham festival glory.
Doddiethegreat is gearing up to tackle a longer distance in a bid for success at the upcoming Coral Cup at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival. The eight-year-old hurdler impressed his team by finishing strongly in fourth place at Newbury's Betfair Hurdle.
Named in honour of the late Scottish rugby icon Doddie Weir, who succumbed to motor neurone disease in 2022, the prize money earned from Doddiethegreat's races is generously donated by his owner and close friend, Kenny Alexander, to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. This foundation, established in Weir's memory, supports research into MND.
Despite facing a setback due to injury that kept him away from the track for over two years, Doddiethegreat has been steadily progressing since his return to racing earlier this season. While trainer Nicky Henderson celebrated a victory with Iberico Lord at the Betfair Hurdle, he was equally pleased with Doddiethegreat's resilient performance that secured him fourth place.
Considering his recent form, connections believe that the time is ripe for Doddiethegreat to move up to a two-mile, five-furlong distance at the Cheltenham Festival—a distance where he tasted success during his hurdles debut in 2021.
Peter Molony, racing manager for Kenny Alexander, expressed,
"We were thrilled with his performance, and both Nicky and the team believe he would benefit from the extra half mile. We were pleased with his run, and with a bit of luck, we could have secured a higher position and more funds for the cause”.
Molony added,
"Our sights are set on the Coral Cup for him at the moment. He's a fantastic horse, and we must proceed cautiously given his injury history, but we've been extremely satisfied with his progress. The leg appears to be holding up well, and hopefully, we can continue to race him successfully and raise more funds for the foundation”.