Talented novice hurdler Sober Glory is set to go chasing this coming National Hunt season, according to his trainers.
The six-year-old Mount Nelson gelding looked a smart prospect when a 12 length winner at Chepstow on hurdles debut. That took his record to 1111, having won a point-to-point and two bumpers. He blotted his copybook at Sandown when ridden wrong, before getting back on track at Newbury.
Sober Glory was second in an unlikely 1-2-3-4 for Britain in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, before disappointing at Aintree.
With him likely to fall short at the top level over hurdles, connections are keen to embark on a chasing.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Johnson White said: “Had he won at Cheltenham or Aintree in the spring, it would have been more of a dilemma. As to which route we go down this season. He ran fantastically well at Cheltenham. But was a bit below par at Aintree and it was a fairly easy decision to go chasing.
“He looks great and we’re really pleased with him. He’s not done any fast work yet although he will be stepping up a little bit tomorrow. We schooled him over fences in the spring, to help inform our decision-making, and he did that very nicely. We’re looking forward to getting him back in action when we have some rain.”
“For a winning point-to-pointer he has plenty of speed” – Johnson White
A winning pointer by Mount Nelson out of a Milan mare, naturally he’s sculpted for staying trips. But as displayed last season, White believes he has enough pace to successfully begin at the minimum distance.
White continued: “At the beginning of last season we were in two minds. As to whether to run him over two miles or two and a half. Micheal Nolan felt he was keen enough in his first couple of bumpers. So it would be best to start him off over two.
“He’s got enough gears for two miles although he will stay further in time. He’ll start off over two miles and we’ll see where that takes us. For a winning point-to-pointer he has plenty of speed.”
The dry summer has certainly wreaked havoc among National Hunt tracks and yards, and concern is building as to whether they’ll be ready in time. White echoed that concern, stating: “I’ve been pretty relaxed about the warm weather this summer. But I’m beginning to get a bit more apprehensive about it in the last couple of weeks.
“We’re forecast rain this week, which is a starting point, but as the dry weather continues, the apprehension grows. All we can do is get the horses ready to go for the normal time of year. Then see what the weather gods are doing nearer the time.”