Monday 31 October 2016 13:36, UK
Sandy Thomson would like the ground to be softer next time for Seeyouatmidnight after his stable star made a superb start to the campaign at Carlisle on Sunday.
The Betfair Chase and the Hennessy Gold Cup are among the possible next ports of call for the eight-year-old, who put in an impeccable jumping display to comfortably dispose of solitary rival Bristol De Mai in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase.
"He's out in the field and he's fine," said the Berwickshire trainer.
"He jumped brilliantly and I couldn't be happier.
"We'll have to keep our options open. Obviously he's in the Hennessy and we'll probably give him an entry in the Betfair, but that might come a bit quick. We'll just play it by ear.
"It was good ground (on Sunday) but I would prefer it to be softer for him. We wouldn't go for the Betfair if the ground wasn't soft enough anyway.
"We are limited for the moment but I haven't really had a look through the programme book yet.
"He is versatile, trip wise. He won over two and a half (miles) on Sunday and was third in the Scottish National."
Though Seeyouatmidnight made all of the running at Carlisle, Thomson will be surprised if his horse gets his own way in front next time, especially over a loner trip.
"He just has a high cruising speed, but he might be allowed to do again what he did at Carlisle," said the trainer.
"I don't think he'd get an easy lead over three miles. He doesn't have to make the pace for it to be a stamina test."
