Harry Fry hopes to be Cheltenham giddy over Gidleigh major novice-hurdle contender gallops towards glory

Harry Fry is hoping to feel giddy on success with Gidleigh Park.

The foot-perfect six-year-old is a major novice-hurdle contender. Fry’s charge is unbeaten in a trio of starts over timber this term having also collected a bumper last season to be four from four. The trainer said: “Gidleigh Park is in great form. I’ve been delighted with everything he’s done so far and, while he wasn’t overly impressive on Trials Day, he will have learnt plenty, having had to knuckle down and fight. The weather will play a big part in our decision making. If the ground is soft or slower then we’ll look at the Gallagher, but if it’s on the better side, it would more likely than not be the Albert Bartlett.

“The race he won on Trials Day has produced several winners of the Albert Bartlett, and in time we think he’ll be a three-mile chaser, particularly as there’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree, but there are a few factors we need to weigh up before we make a final decision.”

Fry’s first Festival winner was Unowhatimeanharry in 2016 and Love Envoi made it two a couple of years ago when successful.

The latter goes for the Mares Hurdle again having been second to Honeysuckle 12 months ago and Fry said: “She’s another who’s in good form at home and we’re looking forward to running her. We know she loves soft ground so all the recent rain is music to our ears.

“She was only just touched off by Honeysuckle in the race last year on soft ground and, while she hasn’t been at her best this year, we think she’s coming back into form.

“At her peak, she’s one of the best mares in this country. Lossiemouth looked very good at Cheltenham, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

Harry Fry is a Grosvenor Sport ambassador.