Chasing putting on backburner for Burdett Road

Burdett Road will seek riches in the Middle East this winter after James Owen put chasing plans on the backburner in favour of a return to the level.

The Royal Ascot winner and Champion Hurdle runner-up will soon depart for Dubai where initial sights will be on preparing for a shot at the valuable Red Sea Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup card in Riyadh on February 14.

Owen said: “Burdett Road is fine and there is going to be a slight change of plan with him.

“He is going to Dubai just before Christmas to go for some of the long-distance races out there and then he will go for the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia, which is massive prize-money. He will have two runs in Dubai then Saudi.”

Burdett Road was a respectable third on his Cheltenham chasing bow, but with the two-mile novice scene looking red-hot over fences and similar applying at the top-table over timber, connections are confident they have spotted a prime opportunity for their dual-purpose star to thrive over the winter.

Owen added: “Me and Tim (Gredley, owner) have enjoyed our foreign trips and have been successful with Wimbledon Hawkeye and Aspect Island and I just think with horses like Burdett Road, this is a good option.

“We finished third in the Arkle Trial and there are better ones still to come out, so we were not going to win an Arkle.

“Do we really want to be trying to get four runs into him over fences to run in a handicap chase? And we are not going to win a County Hurdle off his mark.

“He could go for the Champion Hurdle again, but again it is tough, so let’s give him a chance of winning some proper prize-money.

“I would have liked to have gone to races like the Fighting Fifth and of course he had the entries, but I think this is a good plan.”