Lineman May Go Straight To Cheltenham

Jonjo O'Neill's Wichita Lineman may head to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle without the aid of another run.

The JP McManus-owned staying hurdler won at the Cheltenham Festival as a novice last year and was expected to emerge as a leading contender to Inglis Drever's superiority.

And while the the seven-year-old has yet to win a race this season, both his runs have been over an inadequate test of stamina.

'He's fine at the minute but he didn't run in the Cleeve on Saturday because the ground was quite soft and it was a hard race, we didn't want him to have a really hard race just before the Festival,' said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.

'The way it panned out as well, with Inglis Drever winning as he did, it would have been just what we didn't want.

'But make no mistake, Inglis Drever is a fabulous horse and it will be very hard to beat him.

'If we can find a race for him that fits in nicely he might run, but he is just as likely to go there without another run.

Wichita Lineman is a general 6-1 second-favourite behind Inglis Drever for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

(C) PA Sport