Bright Forecast to be given Stayers’ Hurdle entry

Chasing plans on hold for promising six-year-old.

Ben Pauling hopes Bright Forecast can return from injury in time to contest the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Bourton-on-the-Water handler will give the six-year-old – who has not been sighted since finishing third in last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival – an entry in the three-mile Grade One prize after putting plans to go chasing on hold.

Although Bright Forecast has yet to race over three miles, Pauling feels the gelding – who races in the colours made famous by Aldaniti – will have no problem coping with the step up in trip.

He said: “Bright Forecast is in great form. We are in no hurry with him whatsoever and he will be ready when he is ready.

“He remains a very nice horse and he will be given an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle as he probably wants that trip.

“If he doesn’t come back for Cheltenham we will probably look at the three-mile Grade One at Aintree. The plan next season will be to go chasing.”

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