Messire Des Obeaux looks set for a run-out at Newbury on New Year’s Eve in the Betfred Challow Hurdle.
The four-year-old ended last season by finishing seventh in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham but has hit the ground running this term.
The son of Saddler Maker kicked off proceedings by winning a handicap on his seasonal return at Bangor last month before scoring once again in the Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park on December 2.
Options were open for the gelding but trainer Alan King feels that a trip to Newbury is the right route to take.
“Messire Des Obeaux worked well on Friday and the Challow is the plan at the moment,” he said. “I think we will go there because in the other novice races he will have to carry a penalty and obviously the Challow is a Grade One so he won’t have to.
“Provided we are happy with him at the time, that is where he will go.”
