Webber hoping Rupert can improve Paul Webber is already looking forward to the autumn with Time For Rupert after welcoming his star chaser back into training following a summer break. A high-class staying hurdler and novice chaser, the eight-year-old burst a blood vessel when hot favourite for the RSA Chase at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. He ran some good races in top company last season, not least when fifth on his final start of the campaign in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Webber thinks there are reasons to believe Time For Rupert can be an even more potent force on the staying scene when the jumps season really kicks into gear. "Most of the jumpers have come back in now and they haven't all had a wonderful summer because of the wet weather, but Rupert looks tremendous," said Webber. "He ran very well in the Gold Cup and hopefully he'll improve this season. "I think last season was all about getting his confidence back and assuring him that he wasn't going to bleed after what happened in the RSA Chase the season before. "He had a bit of a baptism of fire in last year's Betfair Chase at Haydock, although I don't think he was right that day as he was quiet beforehand and down at the start." Time For Rupert started off last season by finishing second in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and could well return to West Yorkshire in October, for either the feature event or the John Smith's Hurdle. "I hope he can improve again this season and he'll probably start off at Wetherby again, either in the Charlie Hall or he could run in the big three-mile hurdle race," said Webber. "We could go for the hurdle race as that would allow us to protect his mark for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. We'll see."
