Nothing hollow about Tree form
Talented juvenile Hollow Tree has been "overlooked" for next month's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, according to his trainer Donald McCain.
The four-year-old has won three times from five starts over obstacles, including a Grade One victory in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas, and was far from disgraced when third behind Grumeti and Pearl Swan in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham last month.
"It's the best (form) there. I think he's becoming overlooked, which is fine. It doesn't bother me," McCain told At The Races.
"We went to Chepstow and John Quinn's horse (Countrywide Flame) was the highest rated juvenile in the country. We beat him and we became the highest rated.
"We've gone to Cheltenham and we were beaten three lengths. We could have been a bit closer I think and we gave Grumeti 3lb on the day. I would say that is the stand-out juvenile form.
"All season he has had do his own work and make his own running. We are hoping he'll get a bit of company at Cheltenham, which should make it a stiffer test, and he won't just be there for everybody to aim at."
A more strongly fancied member of McCain's Cheltenham team is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle hope Cinders And Ashes. He has won three times from four starts this season and although some are drawing comparisons between him and stable star Peddlers Cross, the trainer believes the pair are quite different.
McCain continued: "He has a different way of doing his job. Peddlers was always quite eyecatching in his work, Cinders And Ashes is very straightforward.
"He has a high-quality Flat pedigree and he is a completely different horse to last year - he has matured out of all recognition. He should be unbeaten this year as he should have won at Ascot and won well but for a very bad mistake down the back.
"Everything has gone right and we expect him to improve plenty for better ground, so it puts us right in the mix I think."
7 February 2012
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