Briareus Handed Ascot Assignment

Ascot's Lightning Novices' Chase on January 20 is likely to be the one port of call for Briareus before the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Andrew Balding hopes to avoid soft ground or an abandonment with his seven-year-old, who would be switched to an alternative engagement in Ireland under those circumstances.

The Kingsclere trainer said: 'The next stop is the Lightning Chase and, at the moment, the intention is to give him one outing before Cheltenham, where the Arkle is by far and away his most likely target.

'Should Ascot for any reason be called off, there is a race for him at Leopardstown.

'Ideally we want good ground, and while good to soft wasn't ideal on his last run at Ascot, he got away with it.'

Although conditions were not perfect in that race, Briareus still ran out a three-length winner of the Grade Two Scanmoor Noel Novice' Chase.

Balding's charge is now as big as 16-1 for the Arkle with Coral and William Hill.

(C) PA Sport