Star Cromwell duo ready to lead biggest Cheltenham squad yet

Unbeaten juvenile Hello Neighbour and exciting mare Sixandahalf look set to lead Gavin Cromwell’s strongest ever Cheltenham Festival squad into battle.

The former farrier has enjoyed six winners at the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds, notably breaking his duck in one of the biggest races of them all with Espoir d’Allen in the 2019 Champion Hurdle, as well as saddling Flooring Porter to land back-to-back victories in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

A Dublin Racing Festival treble over the weekend is proof if it were needed the County Meath handler continues to go from strength to strength and his eyes are now firmly fixed on further success at Prestbury Park in five weeks’ time.

“Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago how many we’d bring to Cheltenham and I threw a number out and said 10 or 12, but the man who does our race planning has 34 on his list! There won’t be 34, but there’s still 34 that could possibly have an entry,” he said at a Jockey Club-organised press morning at his yard on Tuesday.

“We’re probably getting more used to it I suppose, we’ve had a bit of practice at it, but it’s exciting and it’s a nice position to be in.

“We’ve gained a bit of experience and know what it all entails and to me it’s our Olympics. As much as we all get caught up in it and it shouldn’t be all about Cheltenham, it is all about Cheltenham.

“I’m delighted they’re all running well, which is a massive positive. They’re all healthy and well and we’ll try to keep them like that for the next five weeks, that’s the biggest thing.”

Hello Neighbour is arguably Cromwell’s most high-profile name heading to this year’s Festival, having supplemented two victories on the Flat with back-to-back wins over obstacles.

His Grade One success at Leopardstown on Saturday cemented his status as Ireland’s leading hope for the Triumph Hurdle, but he is only third best in ante-post lists behind two major contenders for the home team in Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba and the James Owen-trained East India Dock.

Reflecting on Hello Neighbour’s DRF success, Cromwell said: “They didn’t go very quick, which was a negative for us – I think he would settle better if they went a bit faster.

“There is room for improvement, but I think he will improve, and we’re looking forward to the Triumph as a proper-run race will suit him better and he’ll go on any ground.

“It’s very hard to weigh up the form, but the two English horses at the head of the market look very smart and look the ones to beat.”

There was a definite twinkle in the trainer’s eye when discussing the chances of Sixandahalf, who is challenging the Willie Mullins-trained Maughreen for favouritism in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Third in the Irish Cesarewitch in the autumn, the five-year-old made an impressive start to her jumping career at Fairyhouse early in the new year and Cromwell is more than happy to head to Cheltenham on the back of that solitary run.

“She’s been very good and won’t run between now and then,” he said.

“She schooled the other day and is very good to jump. She’s only had the one run over hurdles, but she’s been round a couple of schooling races and doesn’t need any more schooling.

“She’s in great form and she’s looking well, so I’m looking forward to her.

“She’s very versatile ground-wise and she’s not slow either. I’m very happy with her and it will take a nice one to beat her.”

Hopes are similarly high for the Glenfarclas Chase-bound Stumptown, who has won his last three starts in the cross-country sphere, including a Cheltenham verdict in December.

“He’s really taken to it very well. It will be interesting to see what the handicapper puts him in at, but whatever it is, it is and we’ll deal with it,” said Cromwell.

“He’s in good form and he’ll go straight there.”