The Champion Hurdle second favourite Goshen will be given a spin on the flat in preparation for the big one at the Cheltenham festival with his trainer Gary Moore looking at Haydock in late September.
Goshen came from the flat before his superb hurdling exploits last term and was smart enough to gain a mark of 88 that can now be exploited, with the horse showing he is head a shoulders above that mark.
Goshen was a model of consistency during the jumps season and raced three times over timber and he went on to win his events by a combined 68 lengths before the dreaded fall at the Cheltenham festival.
He looked certain to take extend his unbeaten run in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle on the Friday of the meeting but fell at the final flight when 10 lengths clear.
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— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2020
Can you believe it?
Goshen looks set for a brilliant JCB Triumph Hurdle victory, but it's Burning Victory for Ireland in a quite remarkable conclusion at @CheltenhamRaces #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/fHIulH3Vik
Moore is happy with his progressive at home ahead of the new jumps season and thinks a few spins on the flat will put him in tip top condition for his big target in the Champion Hurdle.
(Credit ATR) Moore said: “Hopefully you’ll see him out at the end of the month.
“There are races at Haydock and Newmarket for him – there’s a race at Haydock on September 26 that we’re looking at.
“I’m very happy with him. There aren’t many conditions races over hurdles that he’ll be able to run in – you’ve got the Christmas Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth, but there aren’t a lot of races.
“I’d like to think he’s well enough handicapped on the Flat. He hasn’t run much and has very low mileage, so there’s no reason not to give him a couple of runs on the Flat and see how we get on.”
Currently 9/2 for the Tuesday feature at Cheltenham in March, his price could fluctuate off the back of how he runs this month.