Nick Gifford is enjoying excellent season

FINDON trainer Nick Gifford '“ who got in a timely double at Fontwell Park before the weather closed in '“ is enjoying an excellent season with 18 winners and 39 horses in the frame to his credit.

The tally would certainly have risen further but for meetings being called of because of the bad weather.

Latin America, winning the National Hunt Flat race at 2-1, and Tullamore Dew following up at 9-2, both ridden by Jay Pemberton, rewarded local supporters at Fontwell Park by winning in style.

Closely related to winners in France, Latin America showed promise for the future, and Tullamore Dew, gaining his second win, did well enough to reinforce his main target of the season '“ the EBF Final at Sandown.

Nick currently has some interesting options for the Cheltenham Festival next month, where another of his runners with French connections, Pale Rider, holds three early entries.

Owned by Peter Betts, the French-bred six-year-old grey, by Linamix, finished third at Kempton last month on his first race in this country.

He is provisionally entered in the Supreme Novices Hurdle on March 10, The Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle and also in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle on March 13.

Dee Ee Williams, a six-year-old owned by Tullamore Dew, is entered in the Champion Hurdle following his two impressive wins this season at Ascot and Cheltenham.

Alderluck, a winner at Plumpton in November, is in the Ballymore Portoes Hurdle on March 11 and has the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle as another potential on March 13.

Killaghy Castle, owned by Mrs S N J Embiricos, and a winner at Sandown and Newbury, is a potential for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on March 11, and is also an early entry for the Ryanair Chase, formerly the festival Trophy Chase, the next day.

Another French-bred horse in the string that has shown great promise this season is Helium, owned by Mr and Mrs Mark Tracey.

He is entered for the JCB Triumph Hurdle on March 13The tally would certainly have risen further but for meetings being called of because of the bad weather.

Latin America, winning the National Hunt Flat race at 2-1, and Tullamore Dew following up at 9-2, both ridden by Jay Pemberton, rewarded local supporters at Fontwell Park by winning in style.

Closely related to winners in France, Latin America showed promise for the future, and Tullamore Dew, gaining his second win, did well enough to reinforce his main target of the season '“ the EBF Final at Sandown.