Cotswolds trainer Martin Keighley is hoping to right a few wrongs with Back On The Lash in the Glenfarclas Chase cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival on March 16.
The locally-based trainer believed he had a first Cheltenham winner in the cross-country spectacle six years ago when Any Currency passed the post in front. But the popular veteran was later disqualified after he was found to have traces of a substance permitted for horses in training but banned on racedays in his post-race sample.
Back On The Lash made some amends when winning over the cross-country course at the November meeting and was roared on by the Keighley family in emptional scenes.
A fifth place over the cross-country circuit followed and Keighley is content that Back On The Lash can give connections one hell of a post race bash after the Glenfarclas Chase.
He said: "It was gutting for Any Currency to lose the race, but we've got a nice horse in the cross country this time in Back On The Lash.
"He won the November race at the first attempt, which I'm told hasn't been done before, which proves how well he took to the course.
? Fantastic race
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 12, 2021
All change in the straight as Back On The Lash forges ahead to take the @glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase in the hands of @Sean_Bowen_ for trainer Martin Keighley ? pic.twitter.com/CQ5UAjwBkF
"Sean Bowen felt he was flat at the December meeting, so he's had a break and is a horse that runs well fresh, so he could run a big race."
Back On The Lash could be Keighley's only runner at this year's Festival however.
Keighley is unsure whether Spanish Present is ready for a tilt at the Champion Bumper.
He added: "Spanish Present was an impressive bumper winner last week. The sensible thing would be to wait for Aintree instead of taking on the Willie Mullins horses at Cheltenham, but he's a six-year-old who has experience, so we'll have a look at it.
"Brorson is a young improving horse who has been impressive twice this season, but it doesn't look like he's going to get in the Pertemps.
"He'd love good ground and he's got good form at the course - he was second to a good horse of Gordon Elliott's (Top Bandit) over two miles - and he's improved massively for stepping up to three.
"I think he'd have a solid each-way chance if he gets in."




