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Kildisart will try to book his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with a run on Trials Day on Saturday.

The Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, over two miles and five furlongs, is the intended target for the Ben Pauling-trained seven-year-old after he did not take up his engagement in the Altcar Novices’ Chase at Haydock.

“I think he’ll go to Cheltenham next weekend for the novice handicap chase there,” said Pauling.

“He was declared for Haydock on Saturday until five to ten, but I had a good chat with Anthony Bromley (racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede).

“We just felt with him giving everyone weight with his 3lb penalty it was going to be a hard task for him.

“We thought he’d be better off getting some course form round Cheltenham.

“He’ll hopefully run a big race next weekend.”

Kildisart is currently a 16-1 chance for the Close Brothers’ Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Festival in March after getting off the mark over fences at Ascot last month.