AHOY SENOR will contest the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase rather than taking aim at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, his trainer Lucinda Russell revealed yesterday.
The belief that Cheltenham’s New Course, in use for the final two days of the National Hunt Festival, would play to the seven-year-old’s strengths persuaded Russell to make a bold entry in chasing’s blue riband after Ahoy Senor’s 31-length victory at Newbury in November.
But the Perth and Kinross trainer will keep Grade One-winning hurdler Ahoy Senor, who warmed up for the fixture with a five-and-a-half-length success in the Grade Two Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby 23 days ago, to novice company - and aim for the Gold Cup in 2023.
