Sunday 23 November 2014 10:12, UK
Stuart Crawford is looking forward to pursuing a career over hurdles with Montana Belle following her excellent effort in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last weekend.
The four-year-old was snapped up for £170,000 by owner Roger Brookhouse after winning a Newbury bumper for trainer John Butler last December and was immediately sent to County Antrim-based Crawford.
She performed creditably to finish fourth behind Morning Run on her Irish debut at the Punchestown Festival and ran a blinder on her seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham last Saturday to fill the runner-up spot.
Crawford said: "The Cheltenham race looked a good race on paper and we thought she was going there in good form.
"We hoped she was good enough to finish in the first three and thankfully she was ready enough to do that, so we were very pleased.
"I would imagine she'll go straight over hurdles now and we'll see how we get on.
"It's nice to have horses for Mr Brookhouse.
"We haven't managed to have a winner for him yet, but hopefully we will before too long and things will go well."
