Black Jack Sticks With Staying Route

Black Jack Ketchum is to be targeted at Newbury's VC Casino.com Long Distance Hurdle on Saturday week.

Jonjo O'Neill had indicated the eight-year-old would step back in trip after he posted a narrow success over three miles and one furlong at Wetherby at the start of the month.

However, his name did not appear among the entries for Ascot's Coral Ascot Hurdle at the five-day stage, as connections are keen to keep him over longer distances.

O'Neill said: 'I wasn't sure that he quite saw the trip out at Wetherby.

'I'd have liked to have run at Ascot on Saturday, but the owners want to pursue the long-distance option and so he goes to Newbury the week after,' he told the Racing Post.

O'Neill could still be represented in this weekend's Ascot race by Cheltenham Festival winner Wichita Lineman.

That JP McManus-owned six-year-old currently shares ante-post favouritism (5-1) with Inglis Drever in the sponsors' Ladbrokes World Hurdle market.

He has an alternative option on Saturday in the shape of the Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, but O'Neill is in no rush to make plans.

'I don't know where he goes yet as it all depends on how much rain we get,' O'Neill added.

'If it came up soft I might run him, otherwise we'll wait for the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.'

(C) PA Sport