Trainer Gary Moore says his respected chasers Well Refreshed and Vino Griego should make their seasonal debuts at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Well Refreshed is due to run in the Showcase Trophy this weekend over an extended three miles, while Vino Griego is in line to go in the two-and-a-half mile Equus-Fine Dining At The Festival Handicap Chase.
Nine-year-old Well Refreshed recorded three victories last season, with the highlight being the 10-length win in the Betfred Grand National National Trial at Haydock in February.
Vino Greigo, a year younger than his stablemate, took the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase by 19 lengths on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham in January and also landed a Listed handicap chase at Ascot the following month.
Moore says both horses are looking good ahead of their planned Cheltenham reappearance and he will use the meeting as preparation for bigger things this season.
He said: “Well Refreshed and Vino Griego are intended runners at Cheltenham – the only reason why they wouldn’t run would be if the ground was quicker than good.
“Well Refreshed appears to be fine after Sandown – he was just exhausted – and we want to give him a prep-run before the Hennessy Gold Cup. He was only a novice last season and we hope that he can improve over fences this season.
“I think that two and a half miles suits Vino Griego well and I need to get a run into him before the Paddy Power Gold Cup (at The Open on November 16) next month.
“He ran two very good races at Cheltenham last season and his second in the Byrne Group Plate was a fantastic performance.”
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