Trainer George Charlton is hoping that Knockara Beau can gain a deserved first success at Cheltenham in the £45,000 Grade Three Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase, highlight of the first day of The International on Friday.
The 10-year-old has yet to score in 14 visits to the Home of Jump Racing but has finished second four times, including when going down by two lengths to Alvarado in the Grade Three Murphy Group Handicap Chase at The Open on November 16.
Knockara Beau was sixth in the 2012 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, fourth in both the Pertemps Final in 2011 and the RSA Chase in 2010, and fifth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at The Festival in 2009.
His fine record at Cheltenham also includes a third in the Grade Two Argento Chase in 2012 and a second in the Grade Two Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle in 2011.
Charlton, who trains in Northumberland, reported: "Knockara Beau is set to run at Cheltenham on Friday. I was pleased with his second at The Open because it showed that he is in very good health, but I was also a little bit disappointed that he made one mistake four fences from home.
"It happened at the wrong time in the race and it knocked about six lengths out of him. He ran on well up the hill and would have probably been in front soon after the line.
"He has been at Cheltenham quite a few times without winning but we will keep chipping away with him.
"We have thought about going for the Gold Cup with him again this year. He would be an outsider but it's a long way until March and you don't know what the opposition will be.
"The Gold Cup is a fantastic race and, if you finish fifth or sixth, it is better money than winning a couple of races at Newcastle."
A total of 15 entries for the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase includes Welsh National hero Monbeg Dude, bet365 Gold Cup winner Quentin Collonges and Unioniste, who captured the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup at The International last year and took a Listed chase at Aintree this afternoon. Hennessy Gold Cup third Theatre Guide and Crabbie's Grand National runner-up Cappa Bleu could also line in the extended three mile, one furlong contest.
Day One of The International also features the £35,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2.40pm), run over three miles and seven furlongs of Cheltenham's cross country course and the final leg of the 2013 Crystal Cup. Festival winner Chicago Grey and cross-country specialist Shalimar Fromentro feature among 15 contenders, while the four French-trained entries are three from the stable of Patrice Quinton - Pasquini Rouge, Taiga des Chambres and Taupin Rochelais - and the Jean-Paul Gasnier-trained Quercy Du Manoir.
Following victories at The Showcase and The Open, Thomas Crapper may bid for a third successive Cheltenham win in the £22,000 Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3.15pm, 23 entries). Return Spring, Salubrious and Southfield Theatre, who were separated by a short-head and a nose in the Listed Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, could re-oppose in the three-mile race.
A seven-race card also includes the £12,000 Caspian Caviar Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (1.05pm, 25 entries), the £12,000 CF Roberts Electrical + Mechanical Services Handicap Hurdle (1.40pm, 29 entries) and the £12,000 British Stallion Studs EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (3.45pm, 21 entries).
The opening £20,000 Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase (12.30pm) has reopened until 11am on Monday, December 9.
The going at Cheltenham is currently Good on all three courses, with an outlook of cloudy but dry weather.
About The International
The International takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, offering more than £520,000 in prize money over the two days.Key races include the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International, a leading trial for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival, the £100,000 Grade Three Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup, the £45,000 Grade Three Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase and the £40,000 Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase also takes place over Cheltenham's unique Cross Country Course and completes Europe's Crystal Cup Challenge.
