Crus likely to take on World

Grands Crus is set to return to the smaller obstacles, with owner Roger Stanley pinpointing next Thursday's Ladbrokes World Hurdle as his Cheltenham Festival target.

The eight-year-old finished second in the race in 2011 before embarking upon a chasing career that has yielded Grade 1 glory but also Festival disappointment.

Grands Crus was beaten into fourth as favourite in the RSA Chase last year and, while he managed to claim third in the King George on St Stephen's Day, that effort has been book-ended by two lacklustre efforts.

He worked under the watchful eye of trainer David Pipe at Exeter on Tuesday and Stanley reports Grands Crus, who is nicknamed George, is now set to take his chance over hurdles.

He told his blog: "I think that before George's little hack around Exeter I would've been quite happy to miss Cheltenham and head to Aintree.

"But all that would really do is delay finding out - and, anyway, the ground could also deteriorate again. So the thought is to go for the World Hurdle."