Monet's Handed Ayr Mission

Arkle Trophy runner-up Monet's Garden will attempt to go one better in the Ashleybank Investments Future Champion Novices' Chase at Ayr on Saturday.

The Nicky Richards-trained grey was beaten one and a quarter lengths by Voy Por Ustedes at Cheltenham on only his third start over fences.

A trip to Liverpool earlier this month was scrapped and Monet's Garden will have enjoyed a near six-week break before he tackles the Grade Two contest at the weekend.

'It would just have been a bit quick to go to Aintree with him so we decided to give him another couple of weeks ? that's what we've done just to freshen him up nicely,' explained the Greystoke-based handler.

'He's in grand form and he's just jumped three fences this morning to put his eye in before the weekend.

'He ran a very good race at Cheltenham. He didn't really surprise us or anything, we thought he would run well and he didn't lose a lot in defeat.'

Richards also intends running Faasel in the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle on the same card.

The five-year-old was a slightly below-par eighth in the Champion Hurdle on his latest start and is out to make amends in the limited handicap at the weekend.

'He was a little bit disappointing in the Champion Hurdle but he got a knock and got out of it a bit,' Richards said.

'So we'll see how we go Saturday and he'll probably go chasing next year.'

(C) PA Sport