Ketchum Set For Brit Mission

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Black Jack Ketchum is likely to tackle Friday's Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill is planning to send the seven-year-old for the three-mile event, clearing the way for stablemate Refinement to run in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

However, O'Neill may alter his plans if the weather takes a serious turn.

He told the Racing Post: 'The plan at the moment is for Black Jack Ketchum to run in the Brit Insurance, while Refinement will run in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle, although, of course, things could always change with the weather.

'We don't want the horses to run in the same race and we know that Black Jack Ketchum gets the trip as he has won over three miles before.

'Friday's race looks the easier option as well, so it makes sense to go for that, and you would hope that he would be the one to beat.'

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