The former Champion Hunter Chaser Ucello Conti has crossed the Irish Sea and could make his British point-to-point on Saturday, as the British season prepares to get underway.
The 12-year-old half-brother of the dual King George winner Silvianaco Conti had spent two seasons point-to-pointing and hunter chasing in Ireland with Gordon Elliott including a particularly successful 2019/20 campaign.
Having won on his open debut at Aghabullogue, the French-bred won hunter chases at Thurles, Navan and the Joseph O’Reilly at Fairyhouse, whilst also finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters – all of which saw him earn the title of the season’s leading Irish hunter chaser.
Last seen pulling up in February in the Thurles hunter chase that he had won a year earlier, the chestnut is now set to be a good ride for Ben Bromley.
The son of well known Bloodstock Agent Anthony Bromley, who is the Racing Manager for Ucello Conti’s former owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, had previously come to Ireland to ride him at Ballindenisk last December, when they finished second to Macs Legend in a novice riders open.
Now under the care of the Shropshire-based Melanie Rowley, Ucello Conti is among 21 entries for the Mens open at the British season opening fixture in Bishops Court, as well as at Maisemore Park 24 hours later.
British point-to-pointing returns with protocols that hold many similarities to racing under rules in the same jurisdiction with zones being created at courses – a green zone for officials and participants and an orange zone for owners.
A third blue zone will be designated for the public, however the PPA have confirmed the public will not be able to attend until 2021 at the earliest.
