Sue Smith says she has already made up her mind on Midnight Shadow’s goal for the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.
After disappointing in November at Prestbury Park, the six-year-old hit back with a win at Aintree last month and doubled it up with Tuesday’s Relkeel Hurdle success.
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Plans are now afoot for a maiden Festival outing and while owner Aafke Clarke believes a shot at the Champion Hurdle is the ticket, Smith is convinced he will be better suited to the Stayers’ Hurdle.
“The owner is keen on the Champion Hurdle, but I don’t think we can go back in trip,” he said. “It is a possibility we could go for the Stayers’ Hurdle with him, but it will all have to be discussed.
“The ground would have to be in sensible order, which is easier rather than too fast. “I’m not 100 per cent sure if we would give him another run (before the Cheltenham Festival), we will just see how he comes out of this.”
