Olly Murphy says Hunters Call will head straight to Cheltenham after abandoning plans for the Betfair Hurdle.
The eight-year-old recently switched to Murphy’s yard from John Neilan and made a winning debut for his new handler in a Grade 3 handicap in December at Ascot.
A trip to Newbury for next month’s Betfair Hurdle was expected to be his next goal but the Stratford-upon-Avon trainer has now had a change of heart.
Instead, he says his charge is next likely to appear at the Festival, as he is keen to keep his rating down ahead of his arrival at Prestbury Park.
Murphy said: “All being well, Hunters Call will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival.
“He will have an entry in the Betfair, but he has gone up another 9lb and it is not easy to win two big handicaps let alone three and while the Betfair has great prize money, there is only one Cheltenham Festival.
“I just feel if he ran well at Newbury and went up another 5lb or 6lb, it would hinder our chances of having a horse with a live chance at the Cheltenham Festival.
“There are lots of options at Cheltenham and I will sit down with the owners and discuss things over the next six weeks.”
