Moore mulling distance drop for Salver

Salver could return to the scene of his finest hour with Gary Moore tempted by a run in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown at the end of January.

The 2024 Triumph Hurdle third has taken well to fences this season, relishing a step up to three miles when landing the Esher Novices’ Chase in emphatic fashion in early December.

He was not disgraced when fourth in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day and his team would not be against dropping back in trip on January 31 provided conditions are suitable.

“Salver is grand and he got away with it, but he would want slower ground than what he got at Kempton ideally,” said Moore, who trains the six-year-old alongside son Josh.

“They dropped him 1lb for that I think, but what good is that and he has to keep running in those high-class chases.

“If it came up soft, I wouldn’t be against a run in the Scilly Isles back at Sandown. I know that is only two and a half miles but that wouldn’t worry me as long as it is soft.”

On the same day as Salver’s 12-length Esher Novices’ Chase success, exciting juvenile Macktoad also impressed for the Moore operation with a victorious debut on the card.

However, it is somewhat back to the drawing board and a search for slower ground after he failed to figure when fancied to make his mark in Chepstow’s Finale Juvenile Hurdle over the festive period.

Moore added: “He couldn’t act on the ground and since when do they go round Chepstow a second above standard?

“He jumped three hurdles absolutely disgusting and we’ve had the vet in who couldn’t find anything wrong with him, so we’re putting it down to ground and I just wouldn’t run him on anything worse than good to soft again and hope that wasn’t his true running.

“He could get his toe in the day he won at Sandown and he was a completely different horse then. I want to get him out quick if I can and there is a race at Ascot on January 17 (BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle), but it will have to depend on the ground being right for him.”