Racing - Chief Dan can run big race at Cheltenham (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Racing - Chief Dan can run big race at Cheltenham

5:30pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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CARTMEL racehorse trainer Jimmy Moffatt is quietly confident about Chief Dan George scooping some prizemoney at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Chief Dan George is expected to run in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chaseover an extedned three miles next Tuesday and Moffatt believes he has improved since his impressive victory at Doncaster two weeks ago.

Moffatt told the Gazette: “We had a good win at Doncaster and I think he has stepped up and should race well, so I have my fingers crossed.

“He will probably go off at 20-1 but he is in with a chance as a previous grade one hurdles winner.”

Chief Dan George - he is named after the late Native American who starred in Clint Eastwood’s film The Outlaw Josey Wales - stayed on well to beat Tamarinbleu by a length in a Veterans Chase at Doncaster.

Third-placed Brooklyn Brownie was 23 lengths adrift in third and looks to have run up to his best mark, so you could argue that the Chief is well treated at the weights with only a 6lb rise for that success.

The Chief is also being prepared for a possible tilt at the Grand National and the Scottish National, with the latter event probably favoured at present for the staying chaser Moffatt added: “He started favourite last year and ended up fifth, but he has a lot more confidence this year, has progressed and is more experienced. He was brilliant at Doncaster and is a spring horse.”

This weekend could also see Chief Dan George’s stablemates Catch a Cloud, Dar Es Salaam, Sam Lord and Glen Rouge all racing.