Ahoy Senor is set to return to Wetherby for his next start after finishing third behind Noble Yeats at Aintree on Saturday.
Despite finishing bottom of five at Bravemansgame on his return to action in Charlie Hall at the Yorkshire track, the seven-year-old trained by Lucinda Russell was kicked out favorite for the Many Clouds Chase.
After running free and making a few minor errors early on, Derek Fox’s mount prepared for the task and found itself within three and a half lengths of last season’s Grand National winner.
A novice hunter who won first year last season, hopes were high that Ahoy Senor could become one of the main contenders for the Gold Cup.
However, the latest setback saw him pushed to 40/1 by bookmaker Paddy Power for chasing blue tape.
Eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant, admitted the gelding might need a bit more experience if he is to line up in the Gold Cup on March 17 and will now head to the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Chase Boxing Day.
Scudamore said: “When I came down from the grandstand (at Aintree) I was disappointed but after evaluating it I think it ran very well.
“He’s learning – and we’re learning more about him every time. We’ll send him to Wetherby over Christmas and then to the Cotswold Chase (at Cheltenham on January 28), and maybe get an entry into the Ultima and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“We’re playing with the big boys now and he made a few mistakes early on, but it was a huge improvement from where we were the other day and maybe he’ll come back for that.”
Scudamore said gelding Dylan Thomas may need more match practice than initially thought.
He added: “He was fresh in his first run but just looking at him he might be a different type of horse than we thought and maybe we should run him a little more often but we will see.
“He was beaten by a good horse who is 10/1 for the Gold Cup, the one they are all afraid of now. We wouldn’t be afraid to take it back. You have to.
“Whoever wins a Gold Cup is the one who will be in good shape that day. You are never afraid of a horse. Obviously we have a chance, whether it is this year or next year, but we are very happy. He’s young and just needs a bit more experience.”
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