Late call on Gilgamboa’s festival target

Gilgamboa

Leading owner JP McManus has a strong team lined up for the Cheltenham festival including the smart novice hurdler Gilgamboa. The six-year-old still has three entries at the big meeting but no decision will be made until the weekend.

The Enda Bolger-trained gelding shot to prominence in the ante-post betting for the County Hurdle when he won the Boylesports Hurdle in January. That was a remarkable performance for a horse having just the fourth start of his career, beating a field of 23 experienced handicappers.  

The son of Westerner missed the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury as it came too soon after his Leopardstown victory but is reported in great shape for his next challenge. He won on his debut at Galway in October before suffering his only defeat at Punchestown in December. He looked a shade unlucky as he raced wide into the straight before rallying strongly in the closing stages.  Read more here

  NYK Media, www.horsesgalore.co.uk