O'Neill Considers Black Jack Options

Jonjo O'Neill is keen to give Black Jack Ketchum a chance to prove himself over shorter trips after he scrambled home over three miles and one furlong at Wetherby on Saturday.

The eight-year-old gave the useful Faasel 8lb and a neck beating in the John Smith's Hurdle after looking like he was going to win much easier.

The performance sparked much discussion regarding his best trip and O'Neill admitted the prospect of trying him over shorter is a real possibility.

O'Neill said: 'He's come out of the race on Saturday really well, he's in grand old form and he obviously likes the quicker ground better than he does the softer ground.

'Personally I would like to give him a go over a shorter trip really, he's nearly nine years of age now and we're not sure about the (three-mile) trip.

'He's won over it but he looked like he was all over the winner on Saturday again but then it doesn't happen.

'You don't know if it is his wind or the trip but it would be nice to give him a go over shorter to see if he is a Champion Hurdle horse or whatever.

'I'll talk it over with the owners in the next few days and see what they say, at the moment he is pencilled in to go to Newbury (Long Distance Hurdle, December 1) which is over three miles so we'll have a chat and see what is best for the horse.

'He's a real good horse and he is in fantastic form at the moment and that would be the time to try him over shorter, for me anyway, but everybody has a different opinion and that is mine,' O'Neill told At The Races.

Black Jack Ketchum and stablemate Wichita Lineman hold entries in the two-and-a-half-mile Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Other notable entries at the five-day stage include dual champion hurdler Hardy Eustace, 10-time Grade One winner Beef Or Salmon, 2006 Champion Chase hero Newmill and Noel Meade's improving Aitmatov.

(C) PA Sport