Impressive Mandarin Chase winner King’s Threshold has a trip to Doncaster or Ascot on the radar, with trainer Emma Lavelle also considering a Scottish Grand National tilt in the spring.
The improving nine-year-old achieved his fifth chase success when winning at Newbury over the Christmas period and now has more valuable staying prizes in his sights, with an entry into Town Moor’s Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase later this month and also a shot at the £100,000 Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase on February 14.
Lavelle said: “He has come out of Newbury very well and I still think he is on the right track. These staying hunters are fun horses to have and there are plenty of pots to try and win with them.”
“I loved how he ran at Newbury and I think he is still improving. I have entered him in Great Yorkshire and he will be entered for the three mile handicap at Ascot, a circuit where he has won before. We will look at both options and make a decision.”
“He’s such an advertisement for patient ownership, he’s nine now and a big horse who just needs a lot of time.”
Some of King’s Threshold’s best performances have come on good surfaces similar to what he recently faced at Newbury and with that in mind the Connections look to the end of the season with optimism.
Having also shown endurance, Lavelle could be tempted to head north of the border to Ayr in April for their end-of-season marathon.
“I think he does well on softer ground, but he is clearly better on good ground and that will leave him in a good place for the spring,” Lavelle continued.
“What can happen at that time of year is that there are a lot of horses going to Cheltenham – and we could put in an entry for that ourselves – but there are some pretty interesting selections outside Cheltenham with good prize money.
“I actually thought the Scottish National would be a race to watch because of his penchant for nice terrain and I think those residential trips just give him a chance to jump. There are nice options to have with him.”
#Doncaster #Ascot #option #open #Kings #Threshold #Races