Cheltenham Festival winning owner Reynolds buys Foxhunters hope Mighty Stowaway

Well known owner Philip Reynolds has added to his Cheltenham Festival team by acquiring leading open performer Mighty Stowaway.

Whilst only having two wins under rules to his name, the nine-year-old has proven to be an interesting recruit to the open division this season, as he picked up his third win of the campaign on Sunday at Tinahely with an all-the-way success, just days after being purchased by Reynolds.

“He was only bought during the week and that is Philip’s first horse with me,” said his handler Shark Hanlon.

“The horse was for sale and he was to go to Cheltenham but I didn’t want to lose him out of the yard, so I approached Philip. It is great to have him in the yard as he will go to the likes of Cheltenham, Aintree and Fairyhouse in the spring.”

Reynolds, whose colours are best associated with 2018 RSA Chase winner Presenting Percy and 2016 Pertemps Final winner Mall Dini, has certainly acquired an interesting Foxhunters hope, with Mighty Stowaway having some top class point-to-point form to his name.

At Kinsale on his seasonal re-appearance, he got the better of Macs Legend, who has since won two open’s of his own, whilst Mighty Stowaway’s only defeat of the campaign came at Kirkistown in November when chasing home Dylrow, a piece of form that was franked when his conqueror on that occasion lowered the colours of the likes of Edwulf and Black Hercules at Down Royal over Christmas.

“We didn’t handle the track at Kirkistown. He ran off the last two bends and Tom [Hamilton] came in after it and said to ignore the run.

“He said that he couldn’t get him around the two bends and that when he straightened up he took off again. If there had of been another 200 yards he said he would have beaten the winner.”

Hanlon is already plotting his route to the Festivals now which could include a further outing in open company.

“He didn’t have much of a race [at Tinahely], so I will see how he is after it.

“There is a Ladies race at Nenagh in the middle of February and we will definitely have to look at that before going to Cheltenham. I think he will be even better on nicer ground.

“We did a wind operation with him last year and he is after improving a lot for it. His three runs this season have been very good.”

The Co. Carlow handler also had an update on Rewritetherules, who achieved something of a notable feat last spring when winning a pair of hunter chases at Down Royal and Tipperary within three days.

Having then finished sixth in the Connaught National at Roscommon, the six-year-old is nearing a return to action.

“I think he is a fair horse and I have him to run next week. The only reason that he hasn’t been out is that the ground has been too soft for him,” added Hanlon.