Mohican to make switch at Doncaster

The six-year-old won four times on the Flat for Sir Henry Cecil and was also placed at Group Three level in France.

Now with Alan King, owner Henry Ponsonby is hoping First Mohican can book a ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with a big display in the eventmasters.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle on Town Moor.

Ponsonby said: “He’s definitely an intended runner. I think we’ll get the best ground in England at Doncaster and we’re very much looking forward to his hurdling debut.

“I spoke to Alan on Sunday and he told me he couldn’t be more delighted with the horse. He holds an entry in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, so, hopefully, Doncaster will be a stepping stone. If all went well, he could go to Doncaster, then for the Dovecote at Kempton on February 22 and then go to Cheltenham. It will be very exciting to get him started.”

Another Ponsonby horse sent to King with the intention of going hurdling was last year’s Ebor winner Tiger Cliff.

However, jumping plans have been shelved for the time being.

“A number of Alan’s horses were obviously not right and unfortunately we’ve just run out of time with him,” said Ponsonby.

“If you’re going to go to Cheltenham you need to get the experience in. He’s a horse who needs a bit of time between his races and he just isn’t going to be ready to have a run between now and the Festival.

“The plan is to go to the big all-weather day at Lingfield in April and he’ll probably run in a ‘win-and-you’re-in’ race at the end of March.

“He could end up running in something like the Yorkshire Cup at York in May, but we’ll see.

“Hopefully, he’ll go hurdling next autumn.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s action, Gilgamboa has been ruled out of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Enda Bolger’s six-year-old was an impressive winner of the Boylesports.com Hurdle at Leopardstown little over a week ago, but connections feels this weekend’s Grade Three handicap will come too soon.

The JP McManus-owned gelding is now likely to be prepared for a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March, where he holds entries in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Bolger said: “He’s been struck out of the Newbury race. He’s not running. Cheltenham is probably the next option for him.

“He’s going to have a few entries and I’m not sure which race he’ll go for at this stage.

“We’ll see nearer the time.”

Jeremy Scott’s stable star Melodic Rendezvous heads 29 horses still in contention.

Champion trainer Nicky Henderson has a strong hand with Rolling Star, Gibb River, Snake Eyes and Vasco Du Ronceray.

Ante-post favourite Irving is one of three possible runners for Paul Nicholls, with the Ditcheat maestro also responsible for leading hope Irish Saint and Far West. Nicholls said: “Irish Saint is a few pounds well in, Noel Fehily rode him last time and will do again.

“I’m keen to run Irving, but I’d be very concerned about the ground if it’s testing so we’ll see how it pans out.

“I kept Far West in at the last minute, he has the same owners as Irving and it gives them options if he doesn’t run.”