Fondmort in `tremendous form`

Fondmort remains firmly on course for Cheltenham`s Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy after pleasing trainer Nicky Henderson in a racecourse gallop at Newbury this morning.

The six-year-old is as low as 6-1 with Coral for the two-mile contest and will be partnered by stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald.

However, Henderson revealed that stablemate Blue Royal, third in the 2000 Smurfit Champion Hurdle but so far unraced over fences, could miss the contest and be switched back to the smaller obstacles.

Fitzgerald, aboard Fondmort, completed a circuit of the Berkshire course with Champion Hurdle hope Geos, with the pair eventually finishing upsides each other.

Henderson said afterwards: 'I thought Fondmort did a really nice piece of work with Geos, who is in the Champion Hurdle.

'Fondmort seems in tremendous form - he`s fresh and really buzzing.

'Geos worked well too and with Landing Light working very nicely at home yesterday, he`s done all his galloping and racing before next week.

'Mick Fitzgerald will ride Landing Light but I don`t know about Geos as I haven`t discussed it with anybody yet.'

Blue Royal also had Henderson smiling when working with hurdler Got One Too but the trainer admitted it is a 'big ask' to put him in at the deep end on his chasing debut in the Arkle.

He commented: 'Obviously Blue Royal needed that but as Mick said afterwards, the great thing is that it all still works well with the horse and he still feels fantastic.

'The owners are coming back to the yard and we are going to talk about it now. We`ve got all sorts of options with the horse but it looks as if he might not be fully ready for Cheltenham.

'It`s very much a possibility that we could go back hurdling with him as we would then leave ourselves a full novice season next year over fences with him.'

Blue Royal is a best-priced 14-1 with the Tote for the Cheltenham contest.

Got One Too, ridden by John Kavanagh in the gallops, is also on course for the Festival where he holds entries in the Gerrard Supreme Novices` Hurdle and the Vincent O`Brien County Hurdle.

Henderson said: 'He`s in both races but I don`t actually know where he will go. I`ve got a fair few others in those races but I think his owner, Sir Eric Parker, is quite keen on going for the Supreme Novices` Hurdle so we`ll have a look and see.'