Felix De Giles hoping Easysland can make ten days in quarantine worthwhile

Felix de Giles is hoping the sacrifice of undergoing quarantine to ride Easysland in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase will be rewarded with victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

De Giles has been based in France for the last five years and is delighted to have picked up the plum mount – although it means he has to isolate for five days on either side of his sole day in action at the Cheltenham Festival.

Easysland will be one of the bankers of the entire week, despite a below-par effort over the course and distance in November.

The seven-year-old, trained by David Cottin and owned by J P McManus, is the 11-10 favourite to post successive Cross Country triumphs. He scuppered Tiger Roll's bid to take the race for the third year running when beating the dual Grand National hero by 17 lengths last year.

“I’ve ridden him once before and I’ve won on him at Compiegne. I was meant to ride the stable’s other horse called Ajas. He doesn’t run now, so they decided to put me on to Easysland,” said De Giles.

“David Cottin’s horses have been a bit ill recently, but some of them are starting to come back to form.

“I schooled him the other day. He seems in good order and everything went as planned. Hopefully Easysland travels over nicely and he can give a good account of himself.

“I might have a ride in the Coral Cup for Christian and Sophie Leech, just the two on the Wednesday as far as I know, and then I will have to head straight back to France in the evening.

“I’ve got to come over and quarantine beforehand, but I’m hoping it’s going to be a decision that pays off.

“I’ve got to do five days quarantine in England and then five back in France on my return, so it could be quite costly if the horse doesn’t win!”

De Giles, brother of Herefordshire trainer Ed, is no stranger to success at the Cheltenham Festival, having won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on Andytown for his then boss Nicky Henderson in 2009.

“It was a long time back. I’ve had a second and third at the Festival since, so it would be nice to get my head back in front again,” said De Giles.

“It’s going fine. It’s a bit quiet at the moment, but it’s been good since I came over.”