BURNING Ambition could bid to get back on the winning trail in the Randox Health Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree.
A prolific winner in the Irish point-to-point sphere, Pierce Power's charge made a successful hunter chase debut at Limerick in December before giving the high-class Gilgamboa a run for his money at Punchestown in February.
He was favourite for the Foxhunter Chase at last week's Cheltenham Festival but after finishing a well-beaten eighth, Power is keen to bring seven-year-old back in distance, potentially in the two-mile and five furlongs affair over the Grand National fences on April 12th.
Power said: "There's not a bother on him. I read a report somewhere that he was lame, but that's totally false. He's in great shape and came home absolutely A1.
"We were delighted with the way he ran in Cheltenham. He jumped brilliantly and it just looked like he didn't stay the three and a quarter miles.
"With a bit more age and maturity he might get home on better ground, but for the moment we'll look at bringing him back in trip and he could go to Aintree.
"We'll let him tell us if he's ready, but I'd like to try him over the fences there - I don't think they'd bother him at all - and the trip would suit him perfectly.
"He's only a seven-year-old and was having his third run on the racecourse in Cheltenham. There were 24 runners and they were going a gear or two faster than he's used to, but he should have learned a lot from it.
"He's taken us on a great journey so far and hopefully the journey continues."
SHARING OPTIONS: