Broadway Performer Set to Appear in Cheltenham for New Year’s Day Celebration

Stage Star Returns to Cheltenham for New Year’s Day Handicap Chase

In a surprising twist of events, Stage Star, the seven-year-old trained by Paul Nicholls, will be seeking more glory at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Despite having other options such as Leopardstown’s Savills Chase and Lingfield’s Fleur de Lys Chase in January, connections have decided to go back to Prestbury Park – the scene of his remarkable victories.

After triumphing in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and following it up with an exhilarating win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup earlier this season, Stage Star is set to carry a hefty burden once again. The handicapper has assigned him top-weight for the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase worth £100,000.

“We decided against Ireland in the end and we’re going to run him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the handicap,” said Dan Downie from Owners Group. “He will carry top-weight obviously but it is a trip we know he operates over and a track he loves. It means we don’t have to travel all the way over there (to Ireland) and we thought it made sense.”

The Owners Group also has plans for their former Triumph Hurdle champion Pentland Hills. After finishing second during his encouraging reappearance at Doncaster last Saturday under Nicky Henderson’s guidance, an opportunity to compete in Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle could be on the horizon.

“He’s come out of the race well and we’re happy with him,” continued Downie. “Nicky has actually been really happy with him this season and we have no firm plans, but we will probably have the Lanzarote in our minds as a possible target for him.

“He just wasn’t in any sort of form last year. He didn’t take to chasing and then it is always difficult to come back, especially when faced with awful ground conditions. I think you can draw a line through last season.”