Tim Vaughan has yet to decide whether to commit Our Island to the Betfred Eider
Tim Vaughan has yet to decide whether to commit Our Island to the Betfred Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle.
Last Updated: 19/02/13 3:31pm
The Vale of Glamorgan trainer has also given the eight-year-old an entry in the Lewis Civil Engineering Novices' Chase at Chepstow the same day.
The state of the ground at both tracks and the likely opposition Our Island is likely to face will help Vaughan make his decision.
Although still a novice, Our Island has already shown he can mix it with seasoned long-distance chasers, finishing fifth in the Welsh National on his latest start.
"No firm plan has been made yet. He's in a three-mile novice chase at Chepstow and the Eider at Newcastle," said Vaughan.
"The Eider would suit him but if the race at Chepstow cut up, I might just go a little bit lower grade there and get a win on the board. We can go for the Eider and races like that any year. We will make a decision later on.
"It will depend on the ground and what runs. The door is wide open, but he will definitely run on Saturday whether it be the Eider or at Chepstow. The big thing about horses this year (is that) the ground has been so soft and heavy all the time.
"He had a gruelling race at Chepstow and you saw at the weekend a couple that ran in the Welsh National did not show their form. I'm just mindful of that. Sometimes they seem fine at home but don't perform on the track.
"The more time the better they have after a run. Hopefully we've got him back to his best. I'd love to win another novice with him and then if the ground dried out, we'd turn him out."