'A true gentleman': The late James Johnston, of Shannon
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06 Apr 2026
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06 Apr 2026
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Burdett Road could switch his attentions to chasing, with James Owen considering starting the Champion Hurdle runner-up over the larger obstacles at Cheltenham next month.
A Royal Ascot winner in 2023, the five-year-old has proven a top dual-purpose operator for owners the Gredley family and won the Greatwood Hurdle at Prestbury Park last term before returning in March to pick up a silver medal in the opening day feature of the Cheltenham Festival.
He lost out to Paul Nicholls’ Rubaud at Kempton on his first hurdles outing of the new season at Kempton, a defeat that could signal a change in tack and a first chasing outing in the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase on November 15.
“He’s come out of Kempton really well and he’s actually schooled over a fence for the first time since, so we’ve got that angle now and we could go chasing with him,” said Owen.
“It’s a real possibility and at the minute we are thinking of going for the two-mile novice chase at the November meeting.
“He ran well at Kempton and Rubaud is of course very good round there and it was a little bit tactical, but he still ran really well.”
Last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly could also be in action for Owen at the November meeting after pleasing his handler with his schooling ahead of his career change.
The Mallard Jewellers Maiden Hurdle on the final day of the three-day fixture is currently looking favourite for the four-year-old’s hurdling debut after finding just City Of Troy too good when bidding for Classic honours at Epsom in 2024.
“Ambiente Friendly has schooled well over hurdles and has been working well and he has options,” continued Owen.
“There’s a race at Huntingdon but there’s a maiden hurdle at the November meeting and that will probably be the plan now, to go straight to Cheltenham.”
However, one member of the Green Ridge handler’s string unlikely to be seen during the 2025-26 season is East India Dock, with last year’s Triumph Hurdle third set to be given plenty of time to recover from a setback.
“He’s probably going to be off for the year and we won’t rush him back,” added Owen.
“He’s been busy enough and has plenty of more years ahead of him.”
Desmond College School student Sophie Keane Picture: Arthur Ellis
St. Mary's Graveyard. Image credit: Google Maps.
Mark Mulqueen was sentenced to two and-a-half years' imprisonment | FILE PHOTO
We hear the market is in freefall and tumbling and this might be correct for some sectors but not for all and if your portfolio is diversified the impact is not as great as you might think
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