O’Keeffe ponders Spinner options – Betfred Blog - (2026)

Jedd O’Keeffe says he will bide his time before deciding on Sam Spinner’s participation in Saturday’s Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has had a mixed season to date but showed promise in finishing fourth to Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle in January.

He backed it up by coming home second to the same horse at the Cheltenham Festival and now connections are eyeing a run on Merseyside as a decent way to round off the season.

That second place in the Stayers’ Hurdle has seen him tipped for another shot at the race next year (33/1 2020 Sun Stayers’ Hurdle outright) but he ran well 12 months ago in the Aintree equivalent and may be given another chance.

O’Keeffe is certainly planning an entry but there are issues leading to doubts over his participation.

The Middleham handler is hoping the going softens before next weekend, while he says the run could also depend on whether Joe Colliver can recover from his troublesome back injury.

“The latest is we are still planning to go (to Aintree),” he said.

“We will keep a close eye on the weather. I can see a bit of rain there, either Monday night or Tuesday – and they are bound to have done a good job watering – so I am hoping it will be okay.

“But I would have preferred to have seen more rain in the forecast.”

He added: “Sadly Joe couldn’t ride today (Sunday), because he has hurt his back.

“We are very much hoping he is okay for next weekend, but are waiting to hear what his tests show.”

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