James Ewart will have his first runners at the Cheltenham Festival this month.(credit:
Sleepless in Somerset)
James Ewart is particularly excited about the 2011 Cheltenham Festival as he prepares to saddle his first runners at the meeting.
The trainer has held a licence for seven years but he believes this is the
first season he has had horses capable of running well at the meeting and stable
star Aikman, along with Captain Americo will be running at the
showpiece.
"Aikman has come out of the race very well and I think he now will have the
opportunity to go to Cheltenham," he explained.
"He has five entries and the only one he definitely won't run in is the
Supreme. I would prefer not run in the two handicaps he's in even though he's
now as short as 16-1 for the Coral. He's in the Martin Pipe Handicap as well,
but probably his choices will be the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett.
"Captain Americo goes for the National Hunt Chase and is in tip-top form.
He was ridden out this morning and is as good as ever.
"Cheltenham is a very special place and you only go there when you believe
you have something you have a chance with. I've been training for seven years
and we've never had a runner at the Festival. This year we will have two. We
are only going there with Aikman and Captain Americo because they truly
represent the best chances we've ever have had of a runner with potential to be
placed or even possibly win a race."