I was very impressed with this horse today. I thought he jumped fluently and quickened away well. The race at Donny had no pace but he showed a smart turn of foot to win well. The bare form only says 2 1/2 length win but it could have been a lot more. I think a strongly run Triumph could play to his strengths.
Fair do's he hasn't beat much but won on the flat and followed up with two comprehensive hurdles wins. In a division where hype horses often dominate the market, a horse from a small stable like this can often go unnoticed. 33/1 for the Triumph will certainly disappear if he wins and I'll definitely be keeping on the right side of him.
Steve Gollings appears to have a smart performer on his hands in the shape of Local Hero after his victory in the Atteys Solicitors Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster.
The action on Town Moor was only the second meeting in Yorkshire since November 24 due to the big freeze and Gollings was delighted to have been able to get a run into his lightly-raced four-year-old.
After only three starts on the level, the Louth handler wasted no time in sending him over timber and he followed up a debut win at Wetherby with the minimum of fuss, just as a 1-4 favourite should do.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy was in the plate and was impressed enough with Local Hero - he never came off the bridle - to suggest a trip down to Cheltenham to test himself against better horses.
"He's a nice little horse and I've told Steve to run him in something decent next month to see if he's up to running in the Triumph," said the 15-times champion.
Gollings will take McCoy's advice and is looking at the Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park on January 29 .
"I'm relieved. I don't think the Wetherby race he won was much good and there only looked to be one horse to beat," he said.
"I think I'll do what Tony said and run him at Cheltenham in a few weeks.
"He's definitely got an engine."
Totesport gave the winner a 33-1 quote for the Triumph Hurdle.
Thought he ran well today. He missed a few hurdles but he has shown that he likes a battle and can get up the hill and into around 14/1 now for the Triumph.
He will obviously need to improve again by jumping better, but I think with a strongly run race with AP on board he has got an outside chance in the Triumph. Third Intention looks like a decent yard stick, so I think the form may stand up.
Thought he ran well today. He missed a few hurdles but he has shown that he likes a battle and can get up the hill and into around 14/1 now for the Triumph.He will obviously need to improve again by jumping better, but I think with a strongly run ra
chief I am also on at 33s. Still got plenty to do but can't argue with what he's done so far and the fact AP seems so keen to ride him has to be a positive. Probably a fair price now but if he was trained by Nichols, henderson, Mullins etc he'd be shorter
chief I am also on at 33s. Still got plenty to do but can't argue with what he's done so far and the fact AP seems so keen to ride him has to be a positive. Probably a fair price now but if he was trained by Nichols, henderson, Mullins etc he'd be sh
Local Hero is set to complete his Cheltenham Festival preparations with a trip to Haydock on February 19.
The four-year-old won the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Prestbury Park last weekend putting him in line for a crack at either the main event or the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Trainer Steve Gollings said: "Following a meeting with his owner Phil Martin yesterday, we have decided to have another run before the Triumph or Fred Winter, although we are leaning towards the Triumph. The Victor Ludorum at Haydock looks the race as we just want to get him a little bit more experience."
He added: "He made a couple of mistakes at Cheltenham, one down the back and then at the last, although I didn't ever think he would fall there.
"He hasn't really seen much racing so we just want to give him a bit more experience and Haydock would fit in well as we'd have time to freshen him up a bit before Cheltenham.
"In a race like the Triumph, any thing can happen as it's run so quick and I think he will have learned a fair bit from his run at Cheltenham.
"He's pretty versatile with regards to going and Haydock could be a track that suits him."
Local Hero is set to complete his Cheltenham Festival preparations with a trip to Haydock on February 19.The four-year-old won the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Prestbury Park last weekend putting him in line for a crack at either the main event or the