Neil Mulholland plotting Shantou Village return

Neil Mulholland hopes to have Shantou Village back in action before the end of the month.A Grade Two winner over hurdles last season, the seven-year-old impressed on his first two starts over fences at Fontwell in August and Cheltenham in October.He has not been seen in competitive action since falling at Wincanton in the autumn, but is closing in on a comeback.Mulholland said: " He will be out somewhere in about two weeks' time. He was not right in his coat and that is why he didn't run at Cheltenham (Festival) . We were not happy with him, so there was no point running him. "He has got several options. There is a novice handicap at Sandown on the last day of the season, and there is a novice handicap at Punchestown, while there is also a race at Ayr for him."We might not necessarily go on the big stage when he comes back, we might go somewhere smaller first."