Thomas Mor Headed For Reynoldstown En Route To Festival Bid

Thomas Mor could prove he is the forgotten horse in the newbie chasing department when he heads to Ascot for the Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Reynoldstown Novices' Chase on Saturday.


Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's course winner was second to Kitzbuhel in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day and having actually seen Kempton third, Wendigo, and 4th, Salver, frank the form given that, connections are buoyant ahead of this Grade Two event which might function as a springboard to the Cheltenham Festival.


White stated: "The form has actually been improved considering that Christmas, I was very shocked when taking a look at the Brown Advisory betting to see he is 100-1 and some of the horses that have actually been behind him and not too far in front are single figures.


"He's in excellent form and schooled well on Tuesday morning and goes back to Ascot which is a course he won well at on his penultimate start. Conditions must fit and he's 10lb greater than anything else on rankings so we have to be hopeful.


"We'll get Saturday out the method first before we think of Cheltenham however at the moment we are considering the Grade One.


"This has actually constantly been the race we wanted for him after and we're quite looking forward to the track we are taking."


Thomas Mor has wise course type (Andrew Matthews/PA)


Hobbs and White might likewise be represented at Ascot by the well-regarded Starzand in the opening Betfair Novices' Hurdle, a race the stable won with Sporting John back in 2020.


Meanwhile, French Ship, another of the Minehead operation's leading lights, is likely to check the waters in graded business at Haydock when heading to the north west for the ZYN Rendlesham Hurdle.


"He'll probably go to Haydock rather than the Pertemps qualifier at Wincanton," continued White.


"It will be competitive but he remains in great form and he's run well at Haydock in the past, so there's no factor not to be thinking that way.


"He remains in terrific form and schooled over a couple of difficulties on Tuesday early morning. We couldn't be happier with him and delighted to see how he gets on."