Trainer Jamie Snowden says Thebannerkingrebel could be given a shot in next month's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
With the Cheltenham Festival getting ever closer, Snowden is eager to run the seven-year-old outside of novice company for the first time and the Grade Three handicap at Newbury on February 8 is a serious target.
The Sir Chips Keswick-owned charge ran a solid race to win a Listed contest at Haydock Park in November last year before following that up with a third-place finish at the same venue this month in a Grade 2 Novices' hurdle.
Lambourn handler Snowden is now weighing up whether to enter Thebannerkingrebel into the Betfair Hurdle, which would be the last opportunity to get the gelding a run before the trip to Prestbury Park in March.
“The Betfair Hurdle is a £150,000 race and it is definitely worth more than just careful consideration. He has the right sort of profile for the race, and it is then four and half weeks to Cheltenham,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“It would be the only option for him before Cheltenham, and if he doesn't go there he will go straight to the Supreme. My philosophy is if they are fit – run them. He is rated 145 now and would be 4lb well-in if we did go to the Betfair Hurdle.”
