Horse racing: Pasco represents best chance of glory for Terry (From Gazette Series)

Focus on Cheltenham Festival: Gloucestershire racehorse owner Terry Warner

8:30am Thursday 12th March 2009 in Sport By Rob Iles

DURSLEY racehorse owner Terry Warner is hoping it’s a case of saving the best until last as he chases success at the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow.

His best chance of a winner comes in the final race at the prestigious four-day event as Pasco runs in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup at 5.15pm.

The Paul Nicholls trained horse will be ridden by Sam Thomas and at 10-1 is considered to have a decent chance of winning after triumphing in his last two races at Huntingdon in February and Newbury last November.

Another Warner horse that could be worth keeping an eye out for is Penn Da Benn, who is expected to run in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle tomorrow at 4.40pm.

The Alan King trained horse has also won his last two races at Exeter on New Year’s Day and Wincanton on Valentine’s Day, and is rated at 14-1.

However, Warner admitted he considered getting rid of the horse before his January victory where he finally showed his potential.

He said: “He wasn’t a good horse, he kept on coughing and if he hadn’t won on New Year’s Day we would have given him away but he won by ten lengths.”

Warner has enjoyed success at the Festival before, and he looks back most fondly on Rooster Booster’s victory in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy in 2003, which earned a £174,000 prize fund.

“Racing people don’t forget champions and he put me on the map,” said Warner.

“The Festival is fantastic - the greatest four days. To have a winner there is everyone in National Hunt racing’s ambition.”

As for the Gold Cup, Warner would like to see the Queen’s horse, Barber Shop, win the race, but he hasn’t ruled out Nicholls repeating last year’s achievement of having the top three.

Warner said: “He could do quite easily because he’s got the best horses in the race.”

Nampour is expected to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 1.30pm tomorrow, a race Warner won in 2006 with Detroit City.