Gary Moore will make his final decision as to where Goshen will start his season off over the next few days after the trainer withdrew his stable star from the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle on Thursday ahead of his intended Seasonal bow over timber.
Goshen was a model of consistency during the jumps season and raced three four times over timber and going on to win his three events by a combined 68 lengths before his dreaded fall at the Cheltenham festival in the Triumph Hurdle being 10 lengths clear facing the last flight.
Since then he has not been seen in the jumps sphere but has raced twice on the flat and with the yard looking to exploit his mark of 88 it did not quite pan out with two lesser runs, which saw him beat easily in both events.
After swerving the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, Moore earmarked the Ascot Hurdle as the next stepping stone in this superstars career but once again the gelding was pulled out at the final declaration stage, due to not scoping right for a second time in a row.
That engine 😮
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 15, 2020
Goshen was relentless at @FontwellPark one year ago! pic.twitter.com/bee0zBv7cv
This has now left the Ascot Hurdle with just three runners which include Cheltenham festival winner Laurina, International Hurdle winner Call Me Lord and the Tom Symonds trained Song For Someone
(Credit ATR) Moore said: “His scope wasn’t perfect this morning and you can’t run a horse when their scope isn’t perfect.
“If we can get him clean in time we’ll look at the Fighting Fifth up at Newcastle (November 28), but that is less than two weeks away and he’s going to have to have a few easy days now.
“If he’s not ready for that, then it will have to be the International at Cheltenham (December 12).”
The Grade One Fighting Fifth at Newcastle has now become the youngsters next target with him set to take on last year's Champion Hurdle winner Epatante.