Sports Betting
Evan Williams Stable Tour: Haldon Gold Cup Awaits Libberty Hunter
Evan Williams prepares Libberty Hunter for the Haldon Gold Cup, highlighting his potential amidst a strong stable lineup. Minella Missile and other promising runners also gear up for an exciting season ahead.
Image Credits: Jake Wilkes
Welsh trainer Evan Williams has confirmed that exciting chaser Libberty Hunter will be heading to Exeter to run in the Haldon Gold Cup.
Libberty Hunter Prepares for Exeter Challenge
The eight-year-old finished second in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase last year at the Cheltenham festival, before finishing third in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
He won two handicap’s last term, but Williams believes more improvement is required to become an established high-level performer.
He said: “Hopefully he’ll go to the Haldon Gold Cup in Exeter. The ground there has been on the quick side, so it would be good to get a drop of rain, as he’s a horse who appreciates a bit of cut in the ground.
He’s a nice horse, he ran well at the Festival and Aintree, but he’ll have to improve to take on the older horses or the horses that are proper conditions horses or hardened handicappers.
Evan Williams
Minella Missile Set for Seasonal Comeback
Minella missile has not put a foot wrong for Evan Williams to date, winning the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle when last seen. Williams indicated that his re-appearance is likely to be at the same meeting this year.
“Hopefully we’ll start sometime before Christmas, where we’ll start, I don’t know, maybe the November Cheltenham meeting? He didn’t train on after last year, so he has to go again, but he’s a nice horse and fingers crossed he can go on from there.”
Wind Surgery Boost for Can You Call’s Season
After running a fantastic race at Sandown when last season, the team will be hopeful recent wind surgery will prompt further improvement in Can You Call.
Williams stated: “He’ll slot in somewhere; he runs well at Chepstow, so maybe there at the end of October. He ran a very good race finishing off at Sandown last year, he’s another horse who wants a drop of rain. But he’s working away quietly and while we don’t have a set plan, there’s lots of places he can go.”
As well as the established experienced horses, Williams has a nice crop of younger horses who could turn out to be very useful.
Young Prospects Poised for Success
Williams began: “Out of Office had a setback at the back end of the season, but he’s back in training. He won’t be seen till after Christmas, but his run at Chepstow last year was full of promise, so if we can get back to that sort of form there will be lots of fun to be had with him.
Hurricane Highway Aims for Winter Staying Races
“I was disappointed with Hurricane Highway’s last run, but I’d say he had a long season by then. He’ll slot into races in the middle of winter, he wants plenty of cut in the ground and I could see him running well in those long staying handicaps, 3 mile plus.
“I’m not sure where we’ll start with Juby Ball. He won’t run in another bumper, he’ll go straight over hurdles, and we’ll start him off in a maiden hurdle somewhere, probably in the first or second week of November.
“Carbon King ran in the Welsh Champion Hurdle; I think the ground was a bit dryer than we thought. He was badly outpaced; they went a good gallop that day. I think he’s a horse we’ll mix and match hurdling and chasing with. He’s high in the weights, but fingers crossed when the ground gets very deep, he’ll go well.”
Jake Wilkes is a 3rd year Sports journalism student at the University of Gloucestershire and is a Horse Racing writer for Old Gold Racing, Cheltenham Post and Gloucestershire Live. Jake has contributed to preview evenings for big events such as the Cheltenham Festival and filmed personal insights into different stables. Jake’s hard-working and friendly persona allows him to source exclusive quotes and interviews with high-profile industry experts.