Cheltenham Festival 2018 – Sam Spinner heads 38 entries for the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle
Jedd O'Keeffe's Long Walk Hurdle winner Sam Spinner currently sits at the head of the market for the Grade One hurdle to be run on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.
LONG WALK HURDLE winner Sam Spinner leads 38 entries for the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jedd O'Keeffe's six-year-old propelled himself to the front of the market with an all-the-way success at Ascot before Christmas and could face a number of those he beat at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Runner-up L'Ami Serge could run for Nicky Henderson, while third-place Unowhatimeanharry is in the mix for Harry Fry.
Willie Mullins won this race 12 months ago with the ill-fated Nichols Canyon and has an eight-strong list of possibles this time around, including Champion Hurdle hope Faugheen, Let's Dance, Penhill and Bacardys.
Gordon Elliot has Apple's Jade entered, although the Mares' Hurdle she won last year has been mentioned as the more likely option, with Supasundae in line to represent Jessica Harrington.
Alan King has given Yanworth an entry, although he has been campaigned over fences so far this term and has multiple Festival options.
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Warren Greatrex has entered 2015 winner Cole Harden but admits he could be "up against it" to get to the festival.
The nine-year-old has not been sighted since suffering an odds-on defeat over fences at Worcester in August, after sustaining a knee problem.
Greatrex said: "He is cantering every day. He has got an entry in the Stayers' Hurdle, but we will play it by ear.
"At the moment he is fresh and well and back in training, which is good news. We are probably up against it time-wise, but we will take each day as it comes."