Lorna Fowler reveals Colonel Mustard is bound for Ayr this Saturday for the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
The former County hurdle framer went close on his last trip to Scotland, nabbed by the late charge of the Sandy Thompson trained Benson, in the lucrative Morebattle Hurdle.
Before his bold bid in the Premier Handicap at Kelso, the son of Makfi had two attempts over fences. A respectable fourth on his debut over the larger obstacle at Navan before bumping into the subsequent Arkle winner El Fabiolo on his second start at Fairyhouse.
A break and a return to hurdles seemed to get the Chestnut back on track for a peak runner-up effort at Kelso, and after that performance he was installed into antepost favouritism for the County Hurdle but had to sidestep the Cheltenham Festival after picking up an injury.
Trainer Lorna Fowler told the Tote she is happy with the eight-year-old’s progress since the incident and is optimistic of a big run at the Ayrshire track, she said: “Colonel Mustard is fully ready for his return to Scotland, hopefully we can go one better this time as well.”
“He ran so well at Kelso last time but it didn’t happen for us. He came back from the Kelso trip with quite a nasty cut, and it just meant we couldn’t get him to Cheltenham.”
“We had to give him a little bit of time but he seems in great shape now, he seems to be bulling. We will head on over to Ayr and do our best.”
Despite his defeat last time, Colonel Mustard was handed a 2lb handicap rise and has been pushed up another pound to 146 by the British handicapper.
Only trailing the Nicky Henderson trained First Street on ratings, Fowler’s gelding looks the classy angle at the race and is sure to be popular in the market.
Winners of the last two renewals Milkwood and Anna Bunina are among other declarations which also include recent Grade Two scorers Nemean Lion and the Paul Nicholls trained Rubaud.
