Bear plans remain on hold

Gifford to mull options after tame effort

Last updated: 31st December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Straw Bear: Lost speed

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Future plans for Straw Bear remain fluid following the gelding's disappointing performance in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

The Nick Gifford-trained gelding won the race 12 months ago but was a tailed-off last of four finishers behind Harchibald at Kempton this time around.

The poor effort came after a subdued start to his fledgling career over fences but Gifford reports the seven-year-old to be in good physical shape.

"He's A1, absolutely fine. I was obviously very disappointed at the time, but I've had chance to reflect on it now and he probably hasn't got the speed he once had," he said.

"And he probably does want genuinely soft ground now to slow the others up.

"No plans have been made yet on which way he goes, I've got to speak to connections."