Hanlon to unleash his Cyclone

John Hanlon is backing Hidden Cyclone to hold his own in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The County Carlow trainer has been impressed with the progress made by his stable star as he finished second in two Grade One races, including in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last year, and then secured a first success in 17 months at Punchestown in the Tied Cottage Chase on Sunday.

Hanlon feels Hidden Cyclone has earned the right to go up against the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy and Dodging Bullets over two miles on March 11.

“He did what we know he can do. What was more important was that he settled. We’d been trying that at home for the past month and it worked,” he said.

“He came out of the race 100%. Even on Sunday evening when I went down to the vet’s box he was on his toes. The race didn’t take anything out of him.

“His jumping was very good and the Queen Mother now looks the job.”

Hanlon added: “He’s been knocking on the door of a Grade One. I know he hadn’t won for a while but he had been placed in a lot of graded races and picked up a lot of money – more than you would get for winning ordinary races.

“The big day is only five weeks away. He’ll have a nice break between now and then and please god he stays in the one piece.”