3 minute read

Hurdles return possible – but National still long-term aim.

Kildisart 's connections are considering two options, over hurdles and fences, at Ascot this month following his run in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

The eight-year-old has entries in both the Long Walk Hurdle and the Ascot Silver Cup Handicap Chase on December 19.

Trainer Ben Pauling and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are open-minded about which way to go.

"He's in the Silver Cup at Ascot – he's actually in the Long Walk as well," said Pauling.

"We're just toying with another run over hurdles.

"I'm not sure which way we'll go yet. He ran so well in his prep race up at Wetherby in the bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle that we thought we might explore that route again – but the end game would probably be the National. We'll look at all options.

Pauling felt Kildisart never had the opportunity to give his best shot in the Ladbrokes Trophy, in which he was seventh to all-the-way winner Cloth Cap.

"He's come out of out really well – (but) I just felt he never really got into it," said the Cotswolds trainer.

"They went such a gallop it was just hard to get into a nice, handy position and then come across.

"We were trapped wide most of the way. He jumped OK – he made a couple of mistakes, which didn't help, but finished nicely, so I'm not overly disappointed with the run. I think he did all he could from where he was.

"It was a tough race to get involved in, with the winner making all."

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