Souffleur set for World return

Souffleur is due to have his first run of the season in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle next Thursday.

Peter Bowen's eight-year-old was last seen finishing second to Big Buck's at Aintree, having previously filled the same spot in the National Spirit Hurdle and won the Rendlesham.

"Hopefully he's going to be ready for the World Hurdle and he should run," said Bowen.

"There's been no real problem with him, he's just the sort of horse you can't run too many times in a season.

"So what we decided to do was go straight to Cheltenham and his main aim is going to be Aintree with Punchestown, and possibly the French Champion Hurdle as well.

"He's one of those horses that if you run him too often he ends up with problems so we thought we'd just save him for the big meetings. He's too high to run in a handicap anyway.

"Even if he's not good enough to win the big races he's good enough to pick up quite a lot of money.

"I'll also be sending Saint Luke to run in the Bumper next week, he's won three and is certainly worth his place."