CHELTENHAM DAILY NEWS NOTES | Friday 11th March

We are now only four days away from the biggest week in the racing calendar, with just 96 hours to go until the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

In our latest edition of the news segment, the team take a look at a promising chaser’s Cheltenham aim as well as a potential undetected threat in the Champion Hurdle.

Here are the Daily News Notes for Friday.

CONFIRMATION FOR CONFLATED

Connections of Conflated have revealed that the eight-year-old is more likely to take on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase instead of heading to the Gold Cup.

Speaking to the Racing Post, owner Michael O’Leary announced his rising star’s target for the Cheltenham Festival.

“We’re veering towards the Ryanair. Davy (Russell) is likely to ride him again as he got on great with him at Leopardstown.

“Allaho is a very good horse but he will certainly give us the lead that we want, as did Bryony Frost [aboard Frodon] in the Irish Gold Cup, but whether we’ll be good enough to pass him is the question.

“It looks as though there could be only four or five runners in the race and hopefully he goes there with a good chance.”

Conflated is currently a /1 shot for the Ryanair Chase.

SCUDAMORE’S SNEAKY SUSPICION

Jockey Tom Scudamore believes Adagio could well be a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle – if the five-year-old is at his best.

David Pipe’s recruit finished runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle and he has never finished outside the top two in his eight starts over obstacles.

Speaking to Racing TV, Scudamore believes Adagio has more in the locker.

“For one reason or another, I still don’t think we have seen the best of him yet.

“Hopefully, his best will be good enough in the Champion Hurdle.

“From what he has shown so far, it certainly doesn’t put him too far away and there is no reason to think there won’t be a little bit of improvement in him still.”

Adagio holds a 20/1 price tag for the Champion Hurdle currently.