URUBANDE is set to go on trial for the Champion Hurdle in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. The Aidan O'Brien trained gelding's performance will determine whether he is to be aimed at next March's two mile showpiece, for which he is quoted at 16 to 1 by William Hill, or races over longer trips.
"Urubande is also in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday and the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse the following day but Newbury is favourite," owner Martin St Quinton said yesterday.
"The attraction of the Newbury race is that it is over two miles so we can see whether he has got the sort of speed for the Champion," Hurdle or whether he'll need to go for a race like the Stayers' Hurdle. Aidan thinks that he has but the owner is not so sure!
"Time will tell but I don't think he will be fast enough to cope with "speedsters" like Alderbrook, Collier Bay and Large Action. It would be tempting to go to Newcastle because he if ever he is going to beat Alderbrook it will be when in receipt of 17lb but I think Urubande will probably run at Newbury."
Urubande gave O'Brien his first, winner in Britain when he landed the 21 furlong Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham last, March. His subsequent wins in the Martell Aintree Hurdle later in the spring and in a minor contest at Navan early this month were both gained at a similar trip.
. Paul Nicholls was yesterday putting the finishing touches to an assault on all three Grade One races at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The trainer is aiming Castlekelly Leader at the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and Lake Kariba at the Avonmore Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle.
And See More Business, who bypassed last Saturday's First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot, faces a clash with Danoli and Dorans Pride in the Chiquita Drinmore Novices' Chase.
Explaining the decision to send the unbeaten See More Business to Ireland Nicholls added: "There is no Grade One race in Britain for the money where the ground is right. We just aren't getting the right going in this country at the moment."
