Trainer Gary Moore has reported that Goshen has emerged fine from his disappointing showing at Haydock on Saturday.
The Steven Packham-owned four-year-old was making his first appearance since falling at the final flight of the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, a race that he had been on course to win.
However, his return to action on the flat was not what Moore and his team had been hoping for, as despite making much of the running, Goshen weakened late on to finish last of six runners in the Class 2 Close Brothers Premium Finance Handicap.
Moore admits it was a disappointing showing for his Champion Hurdle hope, but he is putting that down to a lack of race fitness after confirming Goshen has emerged unscathed from the race.
“It was disappointing,” Moore was quoted as saying by Racing TV. “He's fine this morning ? all good.
“I hope he just needed the run. At the end of the day he's a horse rated 88, taking on horses rated nearly 100, and he's got beat four lengths.
“The winner is no mug ? he's a 102-rated horse on the all-weather ? and all the others had fitness on their side.”
The Sussex trainer also revealed that Goshen is likely to have another run on the flat before his attention will fully turn to the jumps season.
“It's definitely still the plan to give him another run on the Flat,” Moore added.
