Wednesday 4 January 2017 10:28, UK
Kim Bailey is in no rush to make plans for his smart novice chaser Charbel after he missed a few engagements over the Christmas period.
Bailey had mentioned the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day as a possible target, with Warwick last Saturday and Hereford on Wednesday two other options that were bypassed.
While nothing is wrong with Charbel, who finished a six-length second to Altior in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, Bailey would just like a few more variables in his favour before committing to a run.
"He's just been a little bit quiet," said Bailey.
"I wasn't that keen on running him over two and a half miles (at Cheltenham) for the first time on tiring ground, which it turned out to be.
"Also, one or two of mine just aren't running quite as well as I'd like at the moment, so I'm in no hurry to go anywhere with him just yet.
"I don't know where he'll go next.
"We were thinking Warwick, but then Buveur D'Air went there and then we had Hereford as an option, but I was there at the last meeting and the ground was very gluey."
