Thursday 5 November 2015 16:37, UK
Perfect Candidate will return to Cheltenham next week for the £50,000 Grade Three Murphy Group Handicap Chase over just short of three and a half miles on the second day of The Open, Saturday, November 14.
The eight-year-old posted a career best on his reappearance when going down by two lengths to Whats Happening, who may re-oppose, in the three-mile, one furlong winner.co.uk Trophy at The Showcase last month.
Trained near Cheltenham by Fergal O'Brien, Perfect Candidate scored twice over fences, at Bangor and Leicester, last season and was 12th on his final start of the campaign in the four-mile Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at The Festival.
O'Brien said: "Perfect Candidate has come out of The Showcase very well and the plan is to go back next week for the Murphy Group Handicap Chase.
"We were really pleased with him last time. He did nothing wrong and has gone up 3lb for that, which won't do him any harm, and hopefully he can go one better next week.
"I think the four miles in the National Hunt Chase was OK for him but it was a very steadily run race. He was up there the whole way which meant they weren't going quick enough.
"He is better off chasing a fast pace and I think the three and a half miles will be spot on."
The Open takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 13 to November 15.
Cheltenham's new £45-million grandstand, The Princess Royal Stand, will officially be opened on the Friday by The Princess Royal
