Minella Racing

Minella Class ridden by Barry Geraghty. Winner of the First Great Western Maiden Hurdle race. Christmas Party Day - Newbury Racecourse.

Minella Class has right form to win at Cheltenham Festival. Six of the last 15 Tolworth Hurdle winners have gone on to triumph at Cheltenham

Ascot

The jockey Daryl Jacob had a lucky escape when Shuil Royale came down in the Beginners' Chase at Ascot on Friday won by Minella Class. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

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Horse In Focus - Minella Class Submitted by ParadeRing on Tue, 11/01/2011

MINELLA CLASS

Minella Class was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last Saturday. He beat his nearest rival, Megastar, by 7L's in the 2m 110yds contest on heavy ground.

The son of Oscar, out of the mare Louisas Dream, was bred by Jimmy Mangan in Conna Stud, Co. Cork. Mangan has a total of 15 mares based at his Conna Stud where he also bred the multiple hurdle and chase winner, Psycho, trained by Tony Martin.

He sold Minella Class as a foal to J. Mallen for €28,000 at the Tattersalls November National Hunt Sale. He is currently the only winner out of Louisas Dream and was her third foal. Louisas Dream herself, is an unplaced half-sister to Galway Plate third Cool Running. She currently has a yearling filly by Robin Des Pres and a 3yo colt by Westerner.

Minella Class started off his career by running in three point to points, finishing 2nd to the high class Al Ferof at the Athlacca meeting. He then made his racecourse debut for his then trainer Trevor Horgan, in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick but he finished down the field.

On his next two starts however, he won a bumper in Naas on heavy ground before finishing 2nd in another bumper, this time at Limerick. After that he went to the Brightwells Cheltenham April National Hunt Sale where he was sold to Highflyer Bloodstock for £95,000.

The now 6yo, made an impressive British debut at Newbury in December 2010, winning the 2m maiden hurdle comfortably on good ground. He was then stepped up markedly in grade in last Saturdays Grade 1 novice hurdle, which he took in his stride.

His current trainer Nicky Henderson, said that he is still learning and will make a lovely chaser. He would prefer to aim him at the Neptune Investement Management Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m5f rather than the Supreme Novices´ over 2m, saying that he thinks "he'd travel and quicken better on better ground over that trip." With more improvement sure to come before March, he would look to have a good chance of grabbing some festival glory.