L’Ami Serge tipped for Novices’ Hurdle joy

L'Ami Serge is being tipped by former trainer Guillaume Macaire to do well in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The five-year-old appears to have finally come of age with Nicky Henderson, having been winless after six starts for the French trainer.

An impressive win in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last time out capped a hat-trick for L'Ami Serge and, looking ahead to Cheltenham, Macaire feels everything is in place for him to come out on top in the Festival curtain-raiser on March 10.

He told Press Association Sport: “He was very backward when he was with me earlier in the year, but I think he is very nice horse and I think he has a nice card to play.

“A lot of time has passed since his last run for me (last March) and I think maybe now he is a five-year-old, he will be stronger and has reached a good level of fitness.

“I don't think distance is a problem for him. He is a horse with good management of himself.

“Two and a half miles will probably be his best distance, but French racing and English racing is different and two miles and a furlong at Cheltenham could be good for him as you need speed and stamina.”