Michael O'Brien still has confidence in Essex, favourite for tomorrow's totesport Trophy Hurdle, despite being worried about the weight his horse has to carry at Newbury.
The gelding landed a big gamble in last month's Pierse Hurdle and had seen support for tomorrow's Grade Three event too, although the defection of top weights such as Rooster Booster saw his burden rise up to 11st 6lb.
A very progressive juvenile last season, Essex was third to Cherub in the Punchestown Champion 4YO Hurdle, and was given a confident ride by tomorrow's jockey Barry Geraghty on his handicap debut in the Pierse.
Forging clear three from home, he idled and was made to fight on the run-in, but his handler was quick to nominate this race as his next target. "He is fine, and travelled over really well on Thursday," said O'Brien.
"The race has been the plan for a while, and although he has got a good bit of weight, there is nothing you can do about it. It did not cut up as much as people thought it would have, and he is not the biggest horse in the world - only 16 hands or so.
"I am a bit concerned about his weight, but I am still quite confident. Barry gets on well with him, and the conditions will be no problem."
