Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English is bidding for Cheltenham glory

An All-Ireland hurling winner both as a player and a manager, Nicky English will be looking for sporting success of a different kind this week when Thedeviluno carries his hopes at the Cheltenham Festival.

The horse is a likely runner in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle on Friday, having emerged as a genuine contender for Cheltenham honours with a commanding display in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster in January.

Second to Willie Mullins’ Doctor Steinberg at Navan on his previous run, the Paul Nolan-trained gelding displayed plenty of stamina to win by five lengths.

At the time of writing, he’s a 4/1 chance for the Albert Bartlett, which goes to post at 3.20 on Friday. He runs in the blue and gold colours and Nicky English is one of the well-known members of the owners, the Youoktodrive syndicate.

The opening race at 1.20 on Thursday is the Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle, the 4/5 favourite for which is Bambino Fever, which is owned by a syndicate that includes Fethard man Willie Morgan and his wife Aoife (née Dunphy), who is originally from Clonmel, along with Declan O’Connell from Clare and his wife Corrina (née Kavanagh), who is originally from Donoughmore, Lisronagh, between Clonmel and Fethard.

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This is a horse that knows his way around the Prestbury Park course, having won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at last year’s festival.

Sam Curling, who trains at Skehanagh Stables at Gooldscross, near Cashel, is doubly represented in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at 4.40 on Friday. He has the current 5/1 favourite Wonderwall, who’s looking to repeat last year’s win in the same race, as well as WrappedupinMay.

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Moonverrin runs for Killenaue trainer Martin Hassett in the Champion Bumper at 5.20 this afternoon, Wednesday. A winner on his last two starts, he’s rated a 33/1 chance.

Cheltenham veteran Mouse Morris, who trains at Everardsgrange, Fethard, saddles Franciscan Rock in the Bet MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (formerly the Coral Cup).

Over the Kilkenny border, from his base at Carriganóg, near Piltown, trainer Joseph O’Brien has Kim Roque in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at 5.20 on Thursday. Just over an hour earlier, his Banbridge runs in the Ryanair Chase.

Trainer Connor King has a two-horse yard near Golden and one of those horses, Oscars Brother, which is owned by JP McManus, takes his place in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 2pm this afternoon, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Clonmel businessman Brian Acheson and Robcour are no strangers to Cheltenham success as owners. This year their hopes will be carried by, among others, the veteran Bob Olinger, who is defending his crown in the Paddy Powers Stayers’ Hurdle at 3.20 on Thursday, a race in which Teahupoo also runs.