Owl on course for jumping debut Group One winner Arctic Owl could make his hurdling debut next month, it emerged today.The seven-year-old gelding, trained by James Fanshawe, is making good progress after being 'badly jarred up' in last year`s Melbourne Cup in Australia.But the stable reports that possible targets for the popular campaigner are Doncaster on December 15th, Ascot on December 22nd or Kempton on December 26th.Arctic Owl scored by a length and a half in last year`s Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger at the Curragh, collaring Yavana`s Pace in the home straight.He has also won the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket and the Henry II Stakes at Sandown.Another key victory came in the Dubai Internet City Shergar Cup Classic at Ascot last year under Johnny Murtagh.But he has not raced since finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup in November last year.A stable spokeswoman said: 'We are very much taking things slowly with the horse. The main thing is thathe is enjoying himself and doing the job properly.'The vets are happy with his legs and have given us the green light to crack on with him. We have been stepping things up since September.'He has been schooling now for three or four weeks and he`s fine. He`s such a star boy. He`s a lovely character.'She added that Fanshawe would make a decision shortly on where to run the gelding.'We wouldn`t want to aim big with him first time. James is away and, when he gets back, he will assess things and will see the horse,' she said.
