Trainer Gary Moore has confirmed stable star Benatar could run at Kempton later this month as his team try to get him fit for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The six-year-old was last seen in action on December 22 when he won the Mitie Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot ahead of Finian’s Oscar and Dolos.
Benatar restarted his season in November and has won three in a row for Moore in what could be a breakthrough campaign for his stable.
The bay gelding was entered in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase last weekend but was not quite 100 per cent to run.
Connections are now looking at the Pendil Novices’ Steeple Chase at Kempton on February 24.
Moore is considering his options ahead of the Festival, with Benatar entered in both the JLT and RSA Insurance races.
“He was not quite right, so we decided not to go to Sandown,” said Moore.
“There is the Pendil at Kempton and a race at Fontwell. “We will have a look at things closer to both those. I would like to see what the ground is like and the competition as they come close enough to Cheltenham.”
Benatar is currently priced at 13.00 for the JLT Novices’ Chase, with Willoughby Court the ante-post favourite at odds of 6.00.
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