Monday 29 February 2016 14:02, UK
Philip Hobbs will leave it as late as possible before deciding which race Garde La Victoire will run in at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old, winner of all three of his starts over fences, holds an entry in both the Racing Post Arkle Trophy and the JLT Novices' Chase.
Although all of Garde La Victoire's wins since going chasing have come over two miles, the Minehead trainer would not be averse to stepping him up in trip to two and half miles should it be the more suitable option.
Hobbs said: "Garde La Victoire has been left in the Arkle and JLT and it will be a last-minute decision as to which race he runs in.
"He is quite similar in the betting for both races. It just depends on the opposition in each race.
"If the ground came up very soft then he is more likely to run in the Arkle.
"You could say the JLT looks the slightly easier race, but you still have Bristol De Mai in there who we beat first time out at Uttoxeter giving 9lb to. He has done well since then, but then so have we."
While plans for Garde La Victoire remain fluid, Hobbs revealed the Coral Cup is very much on the agenda for Rock The Kasbah.
The six-year-old saw the form of his recent victory in a Grade Three handicap at Ascot boosted over the weekend, as Lil Rockerfeller, who finished third that day, posted a decisive success in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.
He said: "Rock The Kasbah has been in very good form winning his last two races, but it's not very often they win three in a row. He is only in the Coral Cup and that is definitely where he is going.
"What has helped him is the soft ground, but it is not essential. Hopefully he is still improving.
"At the moment he is only a handicapper, but it sort of works itself out really as if he wins the Coral Cup then he will be better than just a handicapper."
Richard Johnson nominated both horses among a list of those that he was looking forward to riding at the Cheltenham Festival while the popular veteran Balthazar King also featured.
He has been off the track since picking up an injury in the Grand National last April but delighted his jockey in a recent schooling session.
"He must have a great chance in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase," Johnson told his Betway blog.
"I schooled him the other day and you'd never know he'd had such a bad fall last time. This is a conditions race now and that will definitely help him.
"I'm going to school him over the Cross Country course on Thursday so will update you at the end of the week."
Village Vic and Saddlers Encore completed Johnson's list in his blog where he also reflected on riding 200 winners for the first time.
"It was obviously nice to finally get there last Friday at Warwick and I've had plenty of lovely messages," he said.
"Joining the small and exclusive club of National Hunt jockeys to have ridden 200 winners or more in a season is a real honour - only AP (Sir Anthony McCoy) and Scu (Peter Scudamore) have passed that landmark before.
"It really just shows how well this season has gone so far as we've passed that total with two months still to go.
"Plenty of people keep asking me if I have a tally in mind for the season, but in all honesty I'm just focusing on staying fit and healthy. If I manage to do that, the winners will come.
"Dave Roberts (my agent) does a fantastic job keeping me busy and I'm extremely grateful for his support.
"As for the rest of it, riding nice horses for nice people makes it all worthwhile."
