CHELTENHAM NEWS

Sam Spinner set for Cheltenham trip

Trainer Jedd O’Keeffe has revealed Sam Spinner will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March for his next run.

Sam Spinner produced a strong showing when finishing second at Prestbury Park in 2019, finding only Paisley Park better on that day in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle, and O’Keeffe’s charge is set for another crack in that race this year.

The eight-year-old failed to replicate that kind of performance last season, having been pulled up at Wetherby in October before ending up dead last at Newbury in November in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle.

Recent runs have not worried O’Keeffe, who revealed a foot injury has caused problems to Sam Spinner, and another run in the Stayers’ Hurdle is on the cards.

“Sam Spinner is fine at home and the Stayers’ Hurdle is a definite target for him,” he said, as quoted by RTE. “He has had a little bit of time off after his run at Newbury as an old foot injury has flared up again.

“Due to that injury, the plan is to stay over hurdles this season and so the Stayers’ Hurdle will be his main spring target. I think we are going to struggle to get a run into him before the race, so he will be going to Cheltenham fresh.

“He has solid form at Cheltenham, so hopefully he can get there in one piece.”

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