'He's very much on course' - Harry Fry hope leads bumper Betfair Hurdle entries

Harry Fry hopes Gin Coco will be able to fend off a strong Irish challenge to claim Britain's most valuable handicap hurdle next month in the Betfair Hurdle.

The seven-year-old is one of three runners put forward by Fry for Newbury's £155,000 contest on February 11, which attracted 45 entries on Tuesday, six more than at the same stage last season.

Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins, heads the market with the sponsors at 7-2 but Fry is eager to land the premier handicap with Greatwood runner-up Gin Coco, who is 6-1 joint-second favourite alongside the Emmet Mullins-trained Filey Bay.

"Newbury has been the plan for Gin Coco since he was runner-up in the Greatwood," Fry said. "We decided to aim him for this and we've stuck to plan A ever since. He's very much on course."

Glory And Fortune: last year's winner is also entered for the valuable handicapCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gin Coco has run just six times in his career, with his most recent win in October at Newton Abbot under regular partner Jonathan Burke.

Although five and a half lengths behind Champion Hurdle hopeful I Like To Move It in the Greatwood, Fry is optimistic there is more improvement to come from the lightly raced hurdler.

"He's always gone well fresh," Fry said. "We bumped into a progressive second-season hurdler in I Like To Move It, who put up a smart performance under top weight. We were well clear of third, though, so we're just hoping our turn may come in one of those competitive handicaps in the spring. We've given him the best possible chance and freshened him up."

Fry finished ninth in the Betfair Hurdle last season with Boothill, who has since gone on to land a Grade 2 over fences this season.

The Dorset-based trainer's best result was in 2015, when Activial and Jolly's Cracked It finished third and fifth behind Violet Dancer.

Fry has also entered 2021 Tolworth winner Metier and Might I for the Newbury contest but the pair are expected to head to Lingfield for the Winter Million festival instead.

He said: "Metier and Might I are both due to run at Lingfield's Winter Million card next weekend, so we've got the entry just in case for the Betfair Hurdle. There's no immediate plans to take either of them there though, it's all about Lingfield.

"The focus is Gin Coco. We'll see if he's good enough, but he's run some nice races, so hopefully he can keep progressing and be competitive."

Betfair Hurdle (Newbury, February 11)

Betfair: 7-2 Gaelic Warrior, 6 Filey Bay, Gin Coco, 8 Monviel, 10 Icare Allen, No Ordinary Joe, Pikar, 12 Aucunrisque, Colonel Mustard, First Street Hardy Du Seuil, 14 Gauloise, Iceo, Might I, Rubaud, Toothless, 16 bar

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