Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Unbeaten Defence Minister in line for Mill Reef mission
Unbeaten Defence Minister in line for Mill Reef mission
James Doyle guided Defence Minister to victory at Haydock earlier this month
© Photo Healy Racing
Defence Minister has been supplemented for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
The son of Too Darn Hot is unbeaten in two runs to date, breaking his maiden at Newmarket before he defied a penalty at Haydock to take his record to two from two.
He is trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, the Qatari who is beginning to make a name for himself in Europe.
“He’s still quite green for a breeze-up horse and I still think he has plenty to learn and will come on again for that Haydock run,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for Wathnan Racing.
Related Stories
“He defied the penalty in style, though, and I think he had plenty in hand at the line.”
Gimcrack winner Cool Hoof Luke and Aidan O’Brien’s Round Tower winner Ides Of March are among the potential opposition in this weekend’s Group Two contest.
There was also a taking performance from Diego Ventura at Ascot when making his first outing for Al-Jehani, confirming the promise shown during his winning racecourse bow for Gavin Cromwell at Naas, where he accounted for Ger Lyons’ Magnum Force
“We’re still thinking about what to do next with Diego Ventura and he really impressed me at Ascot, a lot went wrong and he still managed to win,” continued Brown.
“No decision has been made yet on him and I will have a sit down with Hamad and make a plan.
“Hamad has done an absolutely tremendous job and he’s only got 10 horses. He’s done a phenomenal job coming in from Qatar and obviously having to learn the gallops and everything.
“He has surrounded himself with a great team and they’re all doing a fabulous job.”