Scott seeking another Golden moment with his Cheltenham Ace

Jeremy Scott is more than happy to take the underdog role again with Golden Ace ahead of her bid for back-to-back victories in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

There was more than a little fortune about her success 12 months ago following the high-profile falls of Constitution Hill and the defending champion State Man, while she also profited from Constitution Hill and The New Lion coming to grief when winning the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in the autumn.

However, Constitution Hill and State Man are not at Cheltenham this year and Golden Ace’s Christmas Hurdle conqueror Sir Gino is also out of the picture, meaning Scott will return to Prestbury Park optimistic his stable star can again play a leading part.

He said: “We’ll find out (if she’s been underestimated) at 10 past four won’t we? I don’t know if we’re underestimated. I think there’s no two ways about it in terms of ratings, if some of the others produce their ratings, Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth in particular, we’re up against it.

“I think we’ve got her very well and I think it’s a very open race. Her form at Cheltenham is pretty good, she’s very reliable so we’re looking forward to it.

“She’s particularly fresh at the moment, we had a nice racecourse gallop the other day which I think put her spot on, so I’m hopeful of a big run.

“I don’t think last year can be topped, but having said that, if she managed to win I’d be enormously proud of her. I’m proud of her anyway, but at least people would give her a bit more respect really.”

The New Lion has been usurped as favourite by superstar mare Lossiemouth in recent days, but his trainer Dan Skelton is confident his charge all the necessary tools to strike gold after coming out on top in a thrilling Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle last season and regaining the winning thread with a hard-fought success in the International Hurdle on Trials day in late January.

Skelton said: “I think we have all the things he needs to win a Champion Hurdle, but that is coming from a man who has never won one! I’ve obviously never had a better chance, but I think everything he’s got are what is required. It will turn into a staying race, it always does.

“Put it this way, you might change your mind, whatever you fancy, halfway down the back as they are going so fast and you think it will turn into a staying race. All these things are to play out, but I know he’s got all the things needed and I think he’ll go very close.

“He’s not a fabulous work horse, but when he gets to the track he comes alive.

“We’re really happy with him. Tactics I will leave to Harry (Skelton) – we feel like he’s got the armoury to do either.”

The Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth is already a three-time Festival winner having won the 2023 Triumph Hurdle and the last two editions of the Mares’ Hurdle.

Connections have this year decided to go for Champion Hurdle glory, with cheekpieces fitted for the first time.

Joe Chambers, racing manager to owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, said: “She may not be as good as we want her to be. I think over two and a half miles miles she is, but with cheekpieces on it might just help her travel a little bit quicker and jump a bit quicker through the air, which she’s going to have to do to be competitive over two miles on the Old course.”

Brighterdaysahead was too good for Lossiemouth in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle, but Gordon Elliott’s star mare was bitterly disappointing in this race 12 months ago and has to prove she can produce her brilliant best at Cheltenham.

“I think she’s a very good mare, everyone can see that. Other than a couple of blips last year that I think we have a reason for – she had an issue with her knee – she hasn’t done much wrong,” said Elliott.

“It’s obvious she’s been to Cheltenham twice and hasn’t won, but last year I think she was beaten after a hurdle.

“She’s an unassuming mare and does nothing fancy at home, but she keeps doing her work.

“It’s a Champion Hurdle and it won’t be easy, but we’re looking forward to it.”

The home team also features Joe Tizzard’s Greatwood and Kingwell Hurdle winner Alexei and the Paul Nicholls-trained Tutti Quanti, who was supplemented last week at a cost of £18,000 after his runaway success in the William Hurdle at Newbury.

Nicholls said: “He’s very well and worked very well at the weekend.

“It’s a big ask on all known form, but he’s certainly going the right way and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“Everyone has this thing about him wanting heavy ground, but he’s won on all sorts of ground and I don’t think it will be an issue. Good horses go on any ground and he’s in that category.”