Bear On Festival Trail Nick Gifford expects to give Christmas Hurdle winner Straw Bear another run before tackling the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in March.After beating Harchibald in a driving finish at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, Gifford is keen to give the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old another spin before the Festival.'I think he's good enough to take his chance in March and just hope we get him there in good shape,' said the Findon handler.'We'll probably have another run somewhere before and he's in the AIG (Europe Champion Hurdle, Leopardstown, January 27).'That's an option and Haydock would be an option on the 19th (bonusprint.com Champion Hurdle Trial) as well as the race at Sandown (Oteley Hurdle, February 2).'We'll mull it over and try and pick the right one,' he told At The Races.'The biggest attribute he's got is that he wants to do it ? he's a real trier.'(C) PA Sport
