Castle Carrock looks to be up to the test

CASTLE Carrock should handle the ground better than most and could still be ahead of the handicapper in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow.

- By NICK ROBSON, PA

Tom Cannon riding Castle Carrock clear the last to win The Anne Boleyn 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle at Sandown in January this year

He proved last year when beating Diva Luna at Sandown that testing conditions do not stop him and he fared reasonably well when upped in class at the end of last season.

A bumper winner for Nicky Richards, he changed hands for £100,000 and moved to Alan King and that Sandown win was his first outing for new connections.

He then went to Kelso for their Premier Novices’ Hurdle when he was keen early on so ended up being dropped out, which meant when Jet To Vegas quickened he had too much to find and came home third. The winner was subsequently fourth at the highest level at Aintree.