Winters has Jewson in mind for Fitz

Mick Winters is eyeing a return to Cheltenham in March for Rebel Fitz despite his odds-on reverse at the track last month.

The smart hurdler won five of his first six starts over fences during the summer, but appeared slightly below his best when beaten by the talented Third Intention at Prestbury Park's Showcase meeting in October.

Winters feels his charge will benefit from a winter break and sees the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as an ideal target.

Winters said: "I saw him out in the field and he looks better now than he did when he was going to Cheltenham. I just don't think he fired 100 per cent over there.

"Every year at this time of year he seems to get beaten, so we give him a break and he comes back as good as ever. We're hoping he does the same again this season.

"I just don't think he was in tip-top form going over there. He missed the third-last but he galloped up the hill, which was good to see.

"We'll maybe look to get a run into him in late January and then if we decide to go to Cheltenham, we'd maybe take him over two weeks beforehand and give him a few days out in the field with a rug on to settle in.

"There is plenty of good prize-money at home as well in races like the Powers Gold Cup, so we'd only want to be going to Cheltenham if we thought we had a right chance.

"I think he'd go for the Jewson if he does travel. I just think at two miles in the Arkle they'd go very hard. Barry (Geraghty) thinks he's better over that bit further and the Jewson would probably be a bit easier as well."