A return to
is top of the agenda for
following his fourth-placed finish in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Olly Murphy’s star stayer was a decisive winner of the Liverpool Hurdle on Merseyside last spring and made a fine start to the new campaign by lifting the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
But having proved bitterly disappointing as a hot favourite for the Long Walk at Ascot last month, the eight-year-old underwent wind surgery prior to Festival Trials day and while his performance was a step in the right direction, Murphy feels it was still short of his peak.
“The form is there to say that he isn’t at his best at Cheltenham. He didn’t really jump or travel with the same enthusiasm as he does around Newbury or Aintree,” said the trainer.
“I’m not sure what we’re going to do now. It was a better run, but still a way off his best and he is better on a flat track.
“Sean (Bowen) was pleased with his wind, hopefully he’ll step forward again and we’ll look forward to defending our crown at Aintree, where I think he comes into his own.”
Strong
is now winless in five starts at Cheltenham, but a return to the Cotswolds for a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March is not out of the question.
Murphy added: “The owners are local to Cheltenham and we’re not ruling out that idea, but ultimately his main aim is
.”