Connections aiming high with Hunt Ball Connections of Hunt Ball are plotting an ambitious four-race campaign for the most improved chaser in training. The Paddy Power Gold Cup, followed by the King George VI Chase, a prep race and then the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the programme being considered for the Keiran Burke-trained gelding. The seven-year-old began his winning spree off a mark of 69 at Folkestone in November and progressed through the ranks in lightning fashion, winning seven of nine starts. After being successful at the Cheltenham Festival in the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase, he ended the season with third place in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree in April to earn a rating of 157. "He's going to go back to Keiran's in a couple of weeks' time and we are basically going to lay him out for the Paddy Power Gold Cup," owner Anthony Knott told At The Races. "It will take about four months to get him fit, so that's what he's aiming for. "He's not going to have that many runs. He's only going to have probably four. He'll go for the Paddy Power in the middle of November, then he'll go for the King George. "We'll then try to find a warm-up race for him in February and get him ready for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. "I've had the horse back on the farm for about three months and I'm worried to death with him. I've only got two more weeks then it's Keiran's job."
