Allysson Monterg is to face a step up in class on his next start in order to determine whether he has the right credentials to make an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Richard Hobson is leaning towards making the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the track on January 30 the next target for the six-year-old to find out whether he is he good enough to return there in March.
Allysson Monterg has finished second in each of his two starts for the Stow-on-the-Wold handler , the most recent coming at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Hobson said: "I was chuffed to bits with his run at Cheltenham as he is still a big, green baby. The owner wanted to go to Cheltenham and I would have rather gone to win a maiden somewhere.
"I knew he looked well and thought he'd be in the first four, but I didn't expect him to run as well as he did as it was only his second run over hurdles in his life.
"You won't see the best of him for at least 18 months and in time he will be a decent chaser as long as we don't rush him.
"He will probably head back to Cheltenham for the Grade Two at the end of the month. It would be good to win a maiden with him, but the owner wants a runner at the Festival and I would rather give him another run around there for the experience.
"He has got lots of stamina and if he is good enough to compete there, then we would look at the Albert Bartlett."