Banbridge delivers as favorite for Joseph O’Brien in Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase

CHELTENHAM, England – This has been a month of travel, and diverse results, for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.

After going winless with two runners at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland last weekend, O’Brien had better luck at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday when the promising gelding Banbridge won the Grade 2 Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at two miles.

O’Brien, 29, has approximately 125 horses in training and said Saturday that 25 are jumpers.

Banbridge, ridden by J.J. Slevin, was always near the front in the Challenge Trophy Trial over 13 fences. The 6-year-old gelding disputed the pace with Sole Pretender for the first 1 1/2 miles before taking the lead three fences from the finish.

Banbridge (the 11-8 favorite) won by six lengths over 5-2 Tommy’s Oscar, who was six lengths clear of 9-1 Sole Pretender in the field of six.

O’Brien noted that for an inexperienced chaser Banbridge adapted under Slevin, even when he was too far or too near a fence as the race developed.

“You have to be very impressed,” O’Brien said. “He jumped very well. He was good long and he was good short when he got in close.”

Banbridge has won 7 of 11 starts in jump races and is unbeaten in two starts in chases. He won his debut over the tougher obstacles in a beginners’ chase at 2 1/2 miles at Gowran Park in Ireland on Oct. 1.

Last March, Banbridge won a 23-runner handicap hurdle at 2 9/16 miles at Cheltenham’s prestigious National Hunt festival in his second-to-last start over hurdles.

Saturday’s win prompted conversations regarding springtime race plans for Banbridge, and whether Grade 1 novice chases at two miles or 2 1/2 miles at the National Hunt festival at this track in March would be a better fit.

“I think we learned that two miles is in his range going forward,” O’Brien said.

Banbridge was O’Brien’s lone runner at the three-day November meeting at Cheltenham that concludes with a six-race program Sunday. First post-time is 8:10 a.m. Eastern. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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