Trainer Richard Mitford-Slade is confident that stable star Samuel Jackson could continue his recent form when he runs in Saturday’s Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster.

A former point-to-pointer, Samuel Jackson burst onto the scene back in December when he made his debut at Taunton.

The six-year-old won at odds of 100/1 after he proved too much for the likes of As I See It and Kings Ryde.

He returned to action on January 4 and was a class above as he won at Bangor on heavy ground. The bay gelding will now run in Grade Two company and Mitford-Slade is feeling optimistic ahead of this weekend’s meeting. He told reporters: ”He is very well.

I was a bit worried this race at Doncaster would come too soon, but he has come back bucking and squealing so it will be interesting to see how he goes up there.

“To be perfectly honest, I thought we would end up handicapping with him, but he has clearly shown he is better than that so we will put him in equal company up there and see how he goes.

“The Albert Bartlett (at Cheltenham) is still a possibility.”

Next Destination is the current favourite for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham on March 16 at odds of 6.00, while Cracking Smart is also well fancied at 7.00.

Getabird is considered an outsider at odds of 11.00, while Kilbricken Storm will be looking to kick on and win his third race to date and he is available at odds of 26.00.