Three time Cheltenham festival winner Sire Du Berlais is set to be the captain of the JP McManus team at this year's Aintree Grand National Festival, as the 11 year old is looking to land back to back Grade One Aintree Hurdles.
The veteran has been a superstar hurdler for Gordon Elliott and JP McManus and having landed back to back Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdles at the Cheltenham festival in 2019 and 2020 was a surprise, last year when sent to Aintree he was the 16/1 winner of the Aintree Hurdle.
Still not done, he created another shock this season when triumphing at Cheltenham as a 33/1 in the Grade One Stayers Hurdle, winning at the track for a third time.
He now heads to Aintree seeking back to back wins in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle and although an 11 year old he still seems to beat the peak of his powers.
This time last week Sire Du Berlais won the Stayers' Hurdle at a big price of 33/1! 🤩
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) March 23, 2023
Dashel Drasher also ran a huge race in 2nd! 👏
🎥 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/Ta5ajxkSwY
(Credit ATR) “It was a fantastic result,” Frank Berry said.
“He was in great form and all credit to Gordon Elliott and his team.“He has come out of the race good and the plan is now to go to Aintree.”
Another runner from the owner that could go well are Zenta in the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle having ran a cracker in third at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle behind stablemates Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth, who both look Punchestown bound instead.
Berry added: “While it is a bit up in the air at the moment, if all was well with her, I’d say she will go to Aintree.”