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Galileo’s Choice runs solid Supreme Hurdle trial

Dermot Weld’s exciting hurdles prospect Galileo’s Choice made no mistake of landing his second success over timber when impressively justifying the odds-on at Fairyhouse on February 15 in a four-runner, two-mile contest, writes Elliot Slater.

To be fair, anything less than an easy victory would have left the Supreme Novices Hurdle participation of the son of Galileo in a great deal of doubt, but that scenario never looked likely to arise as the 2/9 shot travelled easily under Robbie McNamara as John Smith’s Grand National hope Becauseicouldntsee cut out the running under Davy Condon. Once asked to go about his business the formerly very useful Flat racer eased into the lead between the final two flights before hacking up by an effortless four-and-a-half-lengths. Those looking at the 2012 Cheltenham betting will have been impressed.

After expressing himself very pleased with the performance of his facile winner, (who he believes didn’t really enjoy the very testing ground), Weld confirmed that his charge will travel to Cheltenham and compete in the Supreme Novices Hurdle on March 13, the first race on the opening day of the eagerly anticipated National Hunt extravaganza. A winner on his hurdling bow at Galway in July on good ground, Galileo’s Choice than found the combination of the smart Sous Les Cieux and heavy ground just beyond him when runner-up to Willie Mullins’ charge in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, to establish himself as a class act over timber.

Rated 102 on the Flat having won four races at distances between 10 and 17 furlongs, Weld’s talented dual-purpose performer landing his biggest prize on the level in September when beating Look At Me by a length-and-a-quarter to win the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown and is now on general offer at odds of just 9/1 to win at the highest level at the winter game at Cheltenham.