Robson sets sights on Sandown success with Cannock Park

Trainer happy to bypass Cheltenham and Aintree with Kelso third.

Premier Novices’ Hurdle third Cannock Park will skip high-profile options at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree’s Grand National meeting in favour of teeing-up a shot at a valuable event on Sandown’s end-of-season card.

Paul Robson’s six-year-old was third in Grade One company at Aintree on Boxing Day, having won at Cheltenham on his hurdling debut, and again picked up a bronze medal at Kelso in further graded action on Saturday.

He finished just two lengths adrift of the winner Personal Ambition and his handler was delighted to see him also bridge the gap with Formby Hurdle conqueror Jango Baie, who filled the runner-up spot in the Scottish Borders.

Cannock Park holds an entry in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while a return to Grade One action at Liverpool in the spring was also mooted as an option moving forward.

However, Robson intends to send his charge to Bangor before finishing the season in the GBP 100,000 bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on April 27.

Robson said: “He made up 14 lengths on Jango Baie at Kelso, which I was absolutely thrilled about, and it was over a trip I thought might be a little bit far for him, but he looked like he stayed it out fine.

“He’s come out of his race absolutely fine, but I’m not going to take him to Cheltenham or Aintree. I’m going to take him to Bangor on March 23 – there is a GBP 30,000 class two race there – and then it will be straight to Sandown for the GBP 100,000 final on the last day of the year (season).

“We’ll take him to Bangor in three weeks and then he’ll have five weeks between those two races.”

The Cannock Park team at Cheltenham in November
The Cannock Park team at Cheltenham in November (Nigel French/PA)

Cannock Park has excelled for Robson this season, flying the flag for the former jockey, who now combines training a small string with duties in his undertaking business in the Scottish Borders.

However, the gelding’s future lies over fences, with the handler already eyeing next season’s novice chase campaign.

“He’s definitely next season’s chaser and he jumped absolutely faultless at Kelso,” continued Robson.

“If anything, he maybe just gave them a little bit too much height, but I’m thrilled with him and the horse has run another absolute blinder. I’ve ridden him myself this morning and he was bouncing.”

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