Ben Case is waiting to see if his talented Cobblers Dream will make the cut for the Coral Cup and if not is likely to run him in the Martin Pipe conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle.
The gelding was an eye-catching victor of the Listed Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January, winning by five and a half lengths from Highway One O Two.
Cobblers Dream also took a Doncaster hurdle in comfortable fashion before that and looks to be coming to the boil at the right time.
However, Cobblers Dream's Festival route looks unclear, holding entries for a trio of Cheltenham Festival contests, but not expected to run in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. The Coral Cup looks the first choice but the six-year-old is not certain to make the cut, which would leave the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
Which of the latter two races he lines up for remains to be seen as the final fields are yet to take shape, but a Cheltenham appearance is not obligatory for Case and connections, with Kempton and Punchestown options to be considered.
"I don't think he'll run in the Ballymore, for sure. I'll be surprised if he gets into the Coral at the moment," the trainer said.
"He'll probably end up running in the boys (conditionals) race but again, that's if he gets in.
"It's not the end of the world if he doesn't go to Cheltenham, he can go to Kempton on the Saturday and then to Punchestown after that.
"The main plan would be to run him in the Coral if he were to get in, but if he doesn't make the cut then I'll run him in the Martin Pipe."
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