Captain Hugo will not be hunting Cheltenham bonus next week

Captain Hugo will not be heading to the Cheltenham Festival next week after his victory in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso over the weekend, but Thomas Mor is on track for Prestbury Park.

Captain Hugo to Bypass Cheltenham Bonus

Having fallen in his previous race at Musselburgh, Captain Hugo put that behind him in Scotland. However, connections will swerve the chance to win a £100,000 bonus for following with a win at the Festival.

Johnson White, who trains in partnership with Philip Hobbs, revealed plans will focus on Aintree or the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr the following week with the six-year-old.

White, whose daughter Molly is a part-owner of the horse, said: “It’s never a subject I’ll get bored of talking about. It was fantastic and he put up a really brave performance.

“We didn’t go up there thinking we’d win, but we hoped we deserved to be in the line up which as it turns out we did so a fantastic effort and lots to look forward to for the future.

“He definitely won’t be going to Cheltenham. We’ve got options at Aintree and also potentially the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, so they are very much on the radar, but Cheltenham was never really a plan with him and that hasn’t changed since his run on Saturday.”

I don’t think the ground will be a problem for him.

Johnson White

Thomas Mor Targets Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

White also confirmed Thomas Mor in fine fettle to take his chance in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, having not been seen since Boxing Day when finishing second in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

He won at Ascot over two miles and five furlongs before Kempton with both those runs coming on good ground, but White does not believe the ground at Cheltenham holds any fears.

“He’s in good form. He schooled yesterday and he seems well. There’s probably a preference to go right-handed, but I don’t think it’s essential and there’s very few options of where he can run so that is the plan at the moment.

“He certainly goes on softer ground, and if it went too quick, which I’m sure it won’t, because I’m sure they’ll water it, I don’t think the ground will be a problem for him.”