Salver could be be Kempton Christmas Star for the Moores

After taking a starring role in Gary and Josh Moore’s phenomenal weekend at Sandown, Salver could have his sights raised for a tilt at Kempton’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

The father-and-son team fired in four winners over the course of the two-day Tingle Creek meeting, with Salver’s 12-length Esher Novices’ Chase romp, on his first try at the three-mile distance, earning rave reviews.

Third to Majborough in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle, Salver – who is a half-brother to Willie Mullins’ high-class performer Saldier – could now return to Grade One company on Boxing Day, with Josh Moore saying: “Hopefully he will go Kempton and I would like to think he would enjoy it round there.

“Hopefully it stays raining, slow ground might not be key to him but it definitely brings out the best in him.

“I told the owner after he was third in the Triumph Hurdle that he’s a three-mile chaser, so it was always in the back of our minds he would do well when upped in trip.

“He was a big, raw horse as a juvenile and we were always hoping it would work out in the end.”

Another to star for the Lower Beeding team was Macktoad, who made an impressive UK debut on the same afternoon as Salver.

He is also pencilled in for an appearance over the busy Christmas period, with the Moores eyeing Chepstow’s Finale Juvenile Hurdle – a race they won with Salver himself in 2023 – on December 27.

“He might go for the Finale at Chepstow the day after Boxing Day,” continued Moore.

“We’ll know probably by the end of this week if that will come too soon, but we’ll have Chepstow in the back of our minds and that is the initial plan.

“He was very impressive at Sandown, but we’ll see how he is next time.”