Potential star Sober Glory waits on softer ground for chasing debut Johnson White has every faith Sober Glory can match or even improve on his hurdling career when the six-year-old tackles fences this season. The Brocade Racing-owned gelding is a general 7-1 chance for the Arkle in March, having won three of his first four starts as a novice hurdler before finding only Old Park Star too good in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Although there are no targets set just yet, White revealed Sober Glory will be heading over the bigger obstacles when the ground eases. “Sober Glory is very well indeed, he’s schooled lots over fences and has been very encouraging doing that,” said White, who trains alongside Philip Hobbs. “It’s really boring (to say) I’m afraid, but we are just trying to find some nice ground for him. We had a few races earmarked, but the ground just hasn’t been suitable and he won’t run until such time as it is. “It’s a conversation we’re having with our owners on a very, very regular basis, but there’s nothing we can do about it. But he will go straight over fences, definitely. “From the way he ran over hurdles and the way he’s been schooling over fences, there’s no reason to suggest that he won’t reach a very high level over fences as well. “That’s certainly what we’re hoping at the moment anyway.” Thomas Mor, last seen at Prestbury Park in March, is fit to make his return to action with connections harbouring King George aspirations as a possible early-season aim if things go well. “Thomas Mor had an entry at Ascot, but I just thought the ground was going to be a bit quick for him, so we left him,” White added. “I haven’t really spoken to the guv’nor (Hobbs) about where he might go now, but he’s ready to go, we’ll just wait for the ground. “If everything went 100 per cent as planned (then the King George is an option). That might be a step too far at the moment, but if everything went 100 per cent right, then possibly.” Imperial Saint was last seen finishing 13th in the Grand National and the Merseyside venue looks set to be a second home for the eight-year-old this season. “Imperial Saint should have run in the Old Roan at Aintree, which was a blow out, literally,” White said. “He will have an entry in the 0-145 handicap chase at Aintree on Saturday (Play Lucky Stable With William Hill Handicap Chase) with the view of going back there for the Becher Chase (December 5), with the Topham at the Aintree Festival being the end-of-season target.” French Ship, meanwhile, is set for a run over hurdles when suitable ground presents itself before switching to fences. White said: “Ben Jones has schooled him this week and couldn’t have been more happy with him. “Certainly the plan at the moment is to give him a run over hurdles and then probably go chasing after that. We are very happy with him. “We’re still very flexible at the moment. Let’s just get the season under way and see where that takes us.”
