Lambourn trainer Archie Watson is best knows for his flat sprinters but wants jumps glory too as he prepares Stag Horn for a crack at the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on March 18.
Watson, who has tasted Ascot sprint success with Glen Shiel, is targeting long-range glory with five-year-old Stag Horn who is sired by the Epsom Debry winning Golden Horn.
Winning a novice hurdle at Hereford on his debut, Stag Horn then took the Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick in January.
Jumping well under a front-running Nick Scholfield ride, Watson's bay gelding scored an impressive seven-length victory to maintain his unbeaten record over jumps since switching from the flat.
"Although I've said his jumping has been good he did make a couple of novicey errors which meant he didn't win as well as he should have done at Hereford but he really tidied that up at Warwick," the trainer said.
"He did everything that we asked of him and Nick, who will ride him at Cheltenham, was amazed how well he jumped that day and I thought that he won very well.
Cheltenham glory for @Archie_Watson? Stag Horn is set for the Albert Bartlett...
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 27, 2022
"He was very green in the straight still looking around plenty and I'm sure he will come on again for that."
Watson watched plenty of National Hunt racing as a youth and is champing at the bit to have a go at the Albert Bartlett.
"I grew up being a fan of jump racing so it is amazing to have a runner at the Festival. We are really looking forward to having a runner there on the big occasion," he said.
"We are under no illusions how hard the job will be, but you have to say that he goes there with a chance. It is very exciting for the owners (Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib) and everyone in the yard to have a horse that is hopefully going to Cheltenham with a viable chance, which is good.
"I think a lot of trainers would be happy with a horse like this going into a race like the Albert Bartlett.
"Cheltenham is great just like Royal Ascot is on the Flat, but we wouldn't be running him at Cheltenham if we didn't think he had a chance.
"For us on the Flat it is winning a Group 1, winning at Royal Ascot and winning at the Breeders' Cup that are the most important ones, but if you could have a Festival winner it would be right up there."
