LiveScore Racing News: Bob Olinger heading straight to Prestbury Park

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has confirmed Bob Olinger will head straight to Cheltenham in March and will miss the Dublin Racing Festival.

The seven-year-old has only raced twice since winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2021, but both of those rides have been successful.

Having beaten Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame at Prestbury Park, Bob Olinger was then given a 248-day break before he returned at Gowran Park in November. 

De Bromhead's charge beat Bacardys at odds of 1/3 on November 20, before then winning at Punchestown last week. 

Bob Olinger had no issues in winning the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase, with Gaillard Du Mesnil finishing third on that occasion. 

After winning at Punchestown, De Bromhead hinted at a possible warm-up run at next month's Dublin Racing Festival, but he says connections are now willing to head straight to Cheltenham. 

He told the Irish Times: "It's nothing to do with ground; it's just timing. He's unlikely now to be honest (to go to Leopardstown). 

"He'll go straight to Cheltenham and it's highly likely to be the Marsh [Turners Novices' Chase]." 

Like the rest of the National Hunt chasers, De Bromhead is trying to fine-tune his preparations as he looks to end the week as top trainer at Cheltenham, and he says he expects his team to improve in the weeks ahead. 

He added: "I wouldn't say we're all guns blazing, but I also think a lot of it is we just haven't got the bounce of the ball. 

"We're obviously not on full cylinders. But with a good few of them, I just felt we weren't getting the bounce of the ball. We could have had four other winners at Christmas, three of them on the last day. 

"And if A Plus Tard had won the Savills, we'd be told we were having a brilliant Christmas." 

With the Cheltenham Festival less than two months away, trainers are now confirming their plans and Harriet Graham has revealed Aye Right is likely to run in the Ultima or Gold Cup in March. 

This weekend, the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham is the preferred warm-up run for connections, with Aye Right recently winning at Newcastle in November. 

The eight-year-old picked up place money in several big races last season and Graham believes this week's race at Prestbury Park will help them decide their Festival race. 

She told reporters: "I'd like to think he goes to Cheltenham with a good chance. We aim to run him at the Festival, all going well, either in the Ultima or the Gold Cup, so to have a spin round there makes sense. 

"This will give us a better idea of which way we're going at the Festival, definitely."