Owner Fearghal Eastwood savouring Festival journey with Spindleberry

For owner Fearghal Eastwood it will be a “thrill and a privilege” to watch his pride and joy Spindleberry in action at the Cheltenham Festival, as she attempts to regain the winning thread in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

Although holding an entry for the Gold Cup, the Willie Mullins-trained mare saw her ambitions dented as her year-long winning run came to an end in when pulled up in the the Irish equivalent last month.

She is a 7-2 chance with the race sponsors to bounce back against her own sex, with connections determined to make the most of what could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Prestbury Park with their beloved eight-year-old.

“Spindleberry will definitely go for the Mares’ Chase and speaking to Willie that’s the plan,” said Eastwood.

“To have a runner at Cheltenham is a thrill and a privilege and there’s about 20 of us going over, friends and family. We’re determined to enjoy the day first and foremost and if the horse runs well that would be a bonus, we’re really looking forward to it.

“It’s a nerve-wracking time, but in a funny way getting beaten the last day has taken the pressure off. She kept winning and got us all so excited, but I’m not as worked up about it at the minute. I dare say that might change by next week, though.”

Spindleberry had won five successive races including the Grade One WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse last spring before tasting defeat when stepping into the big league at Leopardstown.

Pulled up swiftly after jumping the fifth-last fence, it was a performance her team are hoping to put a line through at Prestbury Park as she faces off against the likes of stablemate and defending champion Dinoblue, as well as Dan Skelton’s in-form Panic Attack and Ben Pauling’s exciting Diva Luna.

“She has it all to do against what will be in the race and Dinoblue is definitely the one to beat having won it last year,” continued Eastwood.

“She has to show what she showed earlier in the season and we’re just hoping that she can do herself justice and come home safely.

“I just hope she does herself justice and she’s better than her run at Leopardstown, where she just didn’t go at all the last day. She’s a lovely mare and I just hope she can show us what she is really made of.”