Fergal O'Brien has decided against running Colin's Sister at Fontwell this weekend in order to keep her fresh for Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old had been pencilled in for Sunday's totepool National Spirit Hurdle in West Sussex but O'Brien has decided to withdraw the mare in the belief she will be better off from having a break.
Colin's Sister opened the season in fine style by securing victory in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby but has failed to add to the win column since, recording two third-places finishes at Cheltenham in her two most recent runs.
O'Brien hopes it will be third time lucky at Prestbury Park when she runs in the Stayers' Hurdle and says he has no concerns about her competing against some big names in one of the Festival's feature races.
“She will go straight to Cheltenham for the Stayers' Hurdle,” the trainer confirmed. “I put her in the National Spirit at Fontwell as last year it was not very strong and the ground was quite soft.
“The owners are keen to go for the Stayers' Hurdle. She has done nothing wrong all year.
“There will be a few coming over from Ireland and one or two over here, like L'Ami Serge, that she has not taken on but she's handled herself well all season and I don't see why Cheltenham will be any different.”
