DATO'S LAST CHANCE (From Warrington Guardian)

DATO'S LAST CHANCE

DATO Star will be having a final shot at the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

The Irish eight-year-old with Warrington owners will almost certainly turn to steeple-chasing next year and Dato has one chance to try and put last year's Cheltenham Festival disappointment out of memory.

Jeff Riley, of Moore, who owns the horse along with wife Kath, says: "We really felt last year was our best chance but Dato had his mishap at the fifth.

"Now Istabraq, the odds-on favourite, is a year older and will be tough to beat.

"I find it a little strange that Dato is only 25-1 after being second favourite last year.

"I know in Dato's last outing he was beaten by 20 lengths at Kempton's Christmas Hurdle by French Holly. But Dato beat French Holly, which is second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, by 20 lengths to win the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in the previous race."

The Rileys went to visit Dato on Sunday at the Yorkshire stables where he is trained by Malcom Jefferson.

Warrington racegoers put their faith in Dato last year and were backing him heavily. Jeff says interest has been high in Dato again and he has put his usual '£20' on him.

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