Sunday 1 March 2015 15:58, UK
Gwencily Berbas is set to line up in the Fred Winter instead of the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Barry Connell-owned four-year-old was a winner at Auteuil in his homeland, prompting connections to give him Festival engagements, and he could not have been more impressive on his first start for trainer Alan Fleming at Fairyhouse last weekend.
Connell and Fleming were waiting on the British handicapper's assessment of the performance before committing to a Festival target and now he has been handed a mark of 139, he is set to go down the handicap route in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle on the Wednesday of Cheltenham.
Connell said: "He's been given a nice mark for the Fred Winter so that's where we're going to go."
Also on course for the Fred Winter is Starchitect, whose trainer Donald McCain told At The Races: "It's going to be fairly quiet for us at Cheltenham as my main owners are keener on Aintree and other meetings, but Starchitect is definitely an intended runner.
"He's come up against Hargam and Peace And Co in his last couple of starts, but to chase home two of the main hopes for the Triumph is no disgrace and I don't think he's badly handicapped."
Sky Bet offer Gwencily Barbas at 14/1 and Starchitect at 16/1 in their betting on the race, with all bets struck on a non-runner, no bet basis.
