Cheltenham aim for Bentelimar

Trainer Shay Barry has revealed Bentelimar will contest the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bentelimar has won his last two races, at Leopardstown and Punchestown, and Barry hopes the six-year-old can impress at Cheltenham next month.

“I’m delighted with him. His run in Leopardstown was good and he galloped all the way to the line,” Barry told At The Races.

“We thought we’d drop him back to two miles in Punchestown as he’s got plenty of boot, but he didn’t jump great, which was a bit disappointing, but at Leopardstown and Navan he jumped quick and slick, so going left-handed he’ll be a different horse again.

“It’s grand to get handicappers but you need horses like him to put you in the shop window, so I’m delighted the way things are going with him.

“He’ll go for the Supreme at Cheltenham. We looked at a couple of the handicaps but he’s gone up in the ratings so he’d have too much weight in those.

“The owners are quite keen to go for the Supreme. If this horse can keep on improving, I think he’ll run a nice race at Cheltenham.”