Sussex Ranger goes for Triumph Hurdle

Sussex Ranger is likely to contest the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March - rather than switching to handicap company in the Fred Winter.

The four-year-old was seriously impressive on his first two starts over hurdles and lost little in defeat at Chepstow on Saturday when second to We Have A Dream in the rearranged Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

Trainer Gary Moore said: "They've put him up 5lb for finishing second, so he's rated 142 now and the owner is keen to go for the Triumph Hurdle.

"He probably won't be winning it as I don't think he can beat the horse he beat the other day, but that's where he goes."

Sussex Ranger ran a fine race behind We Have A Dream, but as that rival was not declared when the race was originally scheduled to be run on December 27, Moore was understandably left disappointed.

The West Sussex handler said: "He ran a good race. I'm just gutted the race wasn't run when it was meant to be as the winner wouldn't have been in the race."

Ar Mad to drop in grade

Ar Mad is set to revert to handicap company following his third-place finish in the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month.

Moore's charge was sidelined for the best part of the year after finishing fourth in the 2016 Tingle Creek and was pulled up on his return to action in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November.

He showed his true colours on his return to Sandown, however, when he picked up minor honours behind Politologue and Fox Norton.

Moore is now keen to lower Ar Mad's sights in an attempt to get him back on the winning trail.

The West Sussex handler said: "Ar Mad is in good form and I think we're going to run him in a handicap at Sandown on February 3. That's the plan."

One Moore inmate set for a more imminent appearance is exciting bumper horse The Flying Sofa.

The five-year-old son of Sholokhov was thrown in at the deep end on his racecourse debut at Ascot last month, but justified the decision when third in Listed company behind leading Champion Bumper candidate Didtheyleaveuoutto and Newbury sales race winner Bullionaire.

Moore added: "He could run at Newbury next Wednesday or we could wait for the bumper at Fontwell the following Sunday.

"We want to try and get a win into him if we can and then go for a decent bumper after that.

"The owner likes having runners at Cheltenham, so the Champion Bumper could be a possibility if he wins next time."