Dessie Hughes believes Tranquil Sea will prove to be the main rival to Schindlers Hunt in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Schindlers Hunt finished third in the Grade One event last year, beaten less than three lengths by Imperial Commander and Voy Por Ustedes, and then went even closer at Aintree where the latter prevailed by a head.
Despite him not having won for over a year, Hughes is convinced the 10-year-old will run another massive race in the Cotswolds after his good recent effort in the Irish Hennessy.
‘He's come out of his piece of work at Leopardstown yesterday fine, they all have,’ said Hughes.
‘I think if he gets the good ground he loves, he must go close again.
‘(Edward) O'Grady's horse (Tranquil Sea) looks the one to beat.
‘Ours ran such a good race in the Irish Hennessy and that was over three miles in heavy ground so he must go well.’
Schindlers Hunt took part in the annual post-race gallops with stablemate Rare Bob, a Grade One winner at the Punchestown Festival last season who has only had one run during the current campaign.
He holds entries in the Ryanair and the Byrne Group Plate Handicap but Hughes thinks the Festival might just come a bit too soon.
‘I just think it might creep up on us a bit with him,’ added Hughes.
‘He went over a mile and a half yesterday and he would probably need another one of those next week, but that would mean it is very close to Cheltenham as we couldn't do it for another 10 days or so.
‘I think we might wait for Liverpool with him but he worked very well. Make no mistake, he's a class horse.’
