Chatham Street Lad Given Marsh Target At Cheltenham

The Mick Winters trained Chatham Street Lad has been speculated frequently as to what race he will head into at the Cheltenham festival and the handler has now announced his main target is the Marsh Novices' Chase, where he will take on the unbeaten Envoi Allen.

Sent chasing this season the gelding has been a revelation for the yard over fences, winning three of his five outings over the larger obstacles and landing a superb event at Cheltenham back in December.

Having won on debut in Ballinrobe, he was then less than impressive at Galway, but that can be put down to a blip as he got back to winning ways at Cork next time out.

The horse still not well known at all, Winters sent him to Cheltenham's December meeting and he went on to land the Grade Three Caspian Caviar Gold Cup by a staggering 15 lengths.

In red hot form, last time out at Fairyhouse he was looking to keep his momentum going but had to settle for third in a strong handicap and having now had a break off the track after these runs, his connections have pinned the Marsh Novices' Chase as his festival target.

(Credit ATR) Winters said: “He’s not out of the Marsh. He’s still in that one. That’s the race the owners want to run in.

“He had a good break and we’ve taken him to the beach today to freshen him up.

“He’d had quite a bit of racing and he slightly disappointed the last day so we thought we’d freshen him up for Cheltenham.

“He cantered on the beach and in the water and he’s had some physio. He’s thriving.

“There were a lot of small things the last day. If we are going to run a good race the next day we are going to have to be 100 per cent.

“That’s what we’re aiming for and we think he has a good chance. We’d like to see plenty of rain in England.”