Runaway Festival winner Easysland set to return at Cheltenham this week
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023
Easysland will try to make it three wins from as many appearances at Cheltenham when he returns to Britain for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase on Friday.
Trained in France by David Cottin, the six-year-old is the new kid on the block in that sphere, having toppled Tiger Roll with a dominant performance at the Festival in March.
Easysland had impressed on his first visit to the Cotswolds in December after winning the Grand Steeplechase Cross Country de Compiegne in November.
It was after his first win at Cheltenham that owner JP McManus stepped in to buy the gelding.
Easysland was one of the starts of last season
Connections have decided to bypass Compiegne this year and go to Cheltenham instead – where he could face an early rematch with Tiger Roll.
“The plan is to come to Cheltenham,” said McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry.
“Everyone is very happy with him. It will be nice to see him back there, and the ground and everything should be good.
“With a bit of luck he’ll stay in one piece and give a good account of himself.”
William Hill quote Easysland at 5-4, with Tiger Roll 3-1.
Pipe plans for Siruh Du Lac
Meanwhile, David Pipe believes Siruh Du Lac will have to take another step forward if he is to make a winning debut for the stable in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday.
The seven-year-old gelding, who also holds an entry in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on November 28, was pulled up in the Grade Three prize last year when trained by Nick Williams.
Though failing to complete either of his two starts last term, Siruh Du Lac had previously looked a horse on an upward curve having completed a four-timer over fences culminating with victory in the 2019 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Plate at the Festival.
New handler Pipe said: “He does have a Ladbrokes Trophy entry, but I would probably say he will go for the Paddy Power as long as the ground is right.
“He looks a lovely horse to have at the yard and his form is in the book for all to see. We gave him a wind operation during the summer and he works like a nice horse.
“He would have to improve to win the Paddy Power off his mark of 150, but he is a decent horse and he is still only seven.”
Pipe reports the Anne Underhill and John White-owned gelding to have settled into his new surroundings well.
He added: “He came in during lockdown, so we had him during the summer and he has had a good summer.
“Last season he had a heavy fall at Cheltenham and he pulled up in this race, so it didn’t quite work out for him on track.
“He has been in with us for a while now and he is fairly straightforward. He is a good addition to the yard.”
Stablemate Panic Attack could also be Cheltenham bound, with Pipe earmarking the Valda Energy Handicap Hurdle on Friday as a possible target.
Bring home the Jumps with a free month trial of Racing TV. Watch over 65 live meetings from Britain and Ireland on unlimited devices. Hurry, only 3,000 trials available. Click here to get yours now!
After finding only Vegas Blue too strong on her hurdles debut at Huntingdon, the Listed bumper winner went one better on her most recent start at Uttoxeter.
Pipe added: “It was a good performance at Uttoxeter and she showed a good attitude to win up there.
“She will have an entry in the two-mile novice handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday and we will take a look at that.”
Lacey eyes Greatwood Hurdle
Tom Lacey plans to give Scottish County Hurdle winner Sebastopol an outing in the Grade Three Unibet Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday.
He said: “I’m very keen to have a go at the Greatwood with Sebastopol. If he is going to competitive this season, he has got to be in some of those decent handicap hurdles. He is immensely talented and I think ultimately we will end up going up in trip with him.
“A race like the Greatwood though, they will go flat out and it should be run to suit him.”
Stablemate Tea Clipper could bid to back up his Silver Trophy success from Chepstow at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Lacey added: “Tea Clipper could go to Cheltenham for the Listed hurdle there next weekend or we might wait for Haydock in what was the fixed brush hurdle. I was really pleased with the way he picked up again at Chepstow.
“His hurdling probably needs to be slicker as he spends a lot of time in the air at his hurdles.
“Had he not won the Silver Trophy, we would have probably campaigned him over fences, but as he has won that we ought to campaign him over hurdles.”
Ellison has high hopes for Cormier
Brian Ellison is hoping Cormier can deliver a second slice of Greatwood Hurdle glory for him and owner Dan Gilbert.
Two years ago, Nietzsche got the eyecatching blue-checked colours home in front a neck ahead of subsequent Champion Hurdle third Silver Streak in the big Unibet-sponsored handicap at Cheltenham.
A repeat plan is in the making as Ellison prepares to send promising four-year-old Cormier south from his Malton base, on the back of successive maiden and novice victories, to try to star again at the weekend on Gilbert’s doorstep.
Owner and trainer will be on weather watch first, though, as Ellison warns Cormier does not want a protracted dry spell before the big race on Sunday.
“The plan is to run (in the Greatwood) at the moment,” he said. “Ideally we’d like a bit of soft ground for him, but that’s the plan. He’s definitely a better horse on soft ground.”
Cormier’s CV to date is similar to Nietzsche’s, in that both were active on the Flat before going jumping.
The 2018 Greatwood winner had a higher rating on the Flat, but Cormier’s improvement over hurdles has been significant.
“He’s won twice and actually never came off the bridle either time,” said Ellison. “It’s surprised us a bit how good he is, considering he’s only a 50-rated handicapper on the Flat.
“But he’s definitely on the up and improving. Whether he’s got the experience at the moment to go in the Greatwood is another thing.”
Cormier will be given an alternative assignment with an entry too in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Sharp Novices’ Hurdle – but the Greatwood is the preferred prize.
“He’s also going to get entered for the two-mile novice as well,” added Ellison. Dan lives there – just over the road from Cheltenham.
“So it’s always been a big thing to have a winner at Cheltenham, and Nietzsche was his first there. He’s a good owner who puts a lot of money into it, and is great to train for.”
Ellison may be doubly represented on Sunday – depending how Forest Bihan performs in a gallop at Carlisle on Monday as he prepares for a possible first run in more than a year in the Shloer Cheltenham Chase.
The nine-year-old has been off the track with an injury since winning the Old Roan at Aintree last October, and Ellison is determined not to rush him – with a sound surface very much preferable, in his case.
“He’s going to Carlisle on Monday for a spin, after racing, and we’ll take it after there,” he said.
“(Owner) Phil (Martin) is not in any rush, (but) if the race cuts up we might go there. If not, we’ll just wait on something else. If he doesn’t go there, it will be something at the end of the month.
“He’s (still) fast enough for two miles – he’s a pretty quick horse, and he wants nice ground.”
Whatever the final plans for Ellison’s November team at Cheltenham, regular rider Danny Cook will not be in action yet as he continues his recovery from a fractured eye-socket sustained in a fall at Market Rasen last month.
He needed more than 50 stitches to his face, and will need a little longer before he returns.
Ellison can, however, call on champion jockey Brian Hughes for Forest Bihan and perhaps Nietzsche’s Greatwood-winning partner Danny McMenamin for Cormier.
“I think Danny will be another couple of weeks,” he said. "Brian Hughes rides Forest if he runs. I don’t know yet with Cormier, but I think Danny McMenamin might ride him.”
Related posts
Saturday ante-post tips: 25-1 chance makes appeal in Lincoln
Watch: Constitution Hill makes short work of Kempton rivals
Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips: three bets at Kempton and Hereford
Constitution Hill: who does he have to beat at Kempton tonight?
Sir Gino was unforgettable in every way, says Henderson
Featured offers
£30 in free bets when you bet £5 with Ladbrokes
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + money back if 2nd to SP fav with Boyle Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £50 in free bets in Multis with Betfair
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with Virgin Bet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved