Bass Hunter is primed to lead the British challenge in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival – and trainer Chris Gordon is confident his stable star can make his presence felt.
The son of Authorized was tremendously impressive on his racecourse debut at Newbury, strolling home eight lengths clear of the field, after which he followed up with a Listed success at Ascot.
The winter weather has prevented Gordon from getting another run into his exciting youngster, but the Morestead handler believes he is in perfect condition and well rested ahead of his planned appearance at Prestbury Park.
Gordon said: “He’s in great order and the Champion Bumper is the plan, we’re really looking forward to that.
“He’s had a good break. There were a couple of races we wanted to go for and both times it was bottomless ground. Windsor was very sticky ground and then at Newbury it was pretty bottomless for the Listed bumper.
“Those were the plans with him and sadly we weren’t able to get a race in. All I could see were negatives in running him in that type of ground so we’ll be going to Cheltenham with all guns blazing in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Bass Hunter is a general 12-1 shot for his Festival assignment and Gordon expects him to give a good account.
“I think he must have a chance. He’s looked very impressive in his bumpers,” he continued.
“(Son) Freddie just kicked on a little bit too quickly at Ascot, he came into the straight and kicked a little bit too early. If he hadn’t kicked on so early I think we would have won it very comfortably.
“He’s got pretty strong form to go in there with, but Lord knows what the Irish are bringing over… I wish it was just for English horses!”
Electric Mason is another of Gordon’s string who goes to the Festival fresh, having been off the racecourse since November ahead of the Pertemps Final.
He was second to Stayers’ Hurdle hope Ma Shantou at Cheltenham in October before coming out on top in a valuable handicap at Haydock on Betfair Chase day.
Gordon said: “He’s got a great chance I hope. We had a great day in the sunshine with him at Haydock and he’s run at Cheltenham before to qualify him for the Pertemps.
“It was the obvious race to go to after Haydock. I couldn’t really see any benefit of running him again until we got to Cheltenham, but he’s in very good order and we’re looking forward to it.”
Gordon is hoping for rain ahead of Andashan’s likely tilt at the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
He added: “It’s 90 per cent we’ll go for the Martin Pipe with him. The only thing that worried me is if Freddie couldn’t ride in it as it would have been quite difficult to get a good conditional, but I think we’re all good.
“He’s been very progressive and we were third in a very nice race at Newbury over two miles earlier on in the season.
“We stepped him up a little bit and he was a very nice second over two-mile-two at Haydock and then we went to two and a half and he won nicely at Newbury last time, so he’s been progressive on all three of his runs.
“All I can pray for with him is a little bit of soft ground – the softer the better for him.”
