has put a line through Steel Ally’s last outing and feels he could run a “massive” race in the Star Sports National
Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.
There are only six entries for the Grade Two, but they include Salver, Blueking d’Oroux and Nemean Lion.
had been building up a fine record until his most recent outing, chasing home stablemate Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and winning a decent pot at Haydock off top weight.
With his forward going style, Thomas thinks he could be difficult to peg back.
“It was a bit of disaster of a race really (at Ascot). Three of them went so hard up front and it just took him a little while to come back to himself after that,” Thomas said.
“He’s going to be wrong at the weights with a few of those horses, but it’s notoriously a race with not many runners.
“Going forward like he can do, he could run a massive race so that’s the plan.
“He’s in the Coral (Cup at Cheltenham), but he’s certainly one we won’t over race for the rest of the season because he’s going to be an unbelievable chaser next season.”