The Kingwell Hurdle remains possible again for Golden Ace as she prepares to defend her Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham in March.
Jeremy Scott’s star mare took the key hurdle event of the season last season, coming home by nine lengths as both Constitution Hill and State Man went down.
Bay has maintained that form continuously since, finishing second in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last season and this time winning the Fighting Fifth on her second run of the season.
On Boxing Day she finished second to Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and can now head to the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton to repeat the same preparation as last year for Cheltenham.
“We are very happy with her, she has had a short break and now she is back at work,” said Scott.
“The plan might still be to go to the Kingwell, and if not we’ll go straight to the Champion Hurdle.
“Last year we did the Kingwell route and if we felt she needed the run then we would go there, but obviously that’s not the main objective.”
The Champion Hurdle picture changed on Trials day when Sir Gino was held up with an injury that will see him miss at least the rest of the season, and Scott expects to have a clearer picture of Golden Ace’s rivals after last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival.
“It’s a real tragedy. I feel extremely sorry for Nicky (Henderson) and the owners,” he said of Sir Gino’s setback.
“The Dublin Racing Festival will tell us more about what will take place, so I think it will be very interesting to see how the field shapes up next.”
#Wincanton #running #Golden #Ace #Races