Ben Pauling has hinted that the EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Final at Sandown could be the right target for Always Lion later in the season.
Ben Pauling has hinted that the EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Final at Sandown could be the right target for Always Lion later in the season.
While deciding to swerve an outing in the Grade Two Winter Novices' Hurdle at the Esher track on Friday with the five-year-old, the Bourton-on-the-Water handler feels that the Grade Three handicap back at the track in March may prove to be a suitable target in the future.
After meeting with defeat on his stable debut at Worcester in October the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned gelding, who finished down the field in this year's Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, made amends when winning at Ludlow last month.
Pauling said: "He got a penalty for winning at Ludlow and there was no point taking them on in the Winter Novices' Hurdle when we would be giving weight away all round.
"He is a nice horse with plenty of ability and there are easier opportunities for him. He is a lovely individual with a big future ahead of him.
"We might look at something like the EBF Final at Sandown for him as his main target."
Pauling stated that A Hare Breath is likely to return to Cheltenham on Friday in a bid to follow up his impressive win at the track last month on what was his first start in 695 days.
He said: "A Hare Breath is entered in a 0-140 two-mile handicap at Cheltenham on Friday and I imagine he will take that up.
"He looks in good form and we are looking forward to getting him out again. This will point us in the direction we head in the second half of the season."