Balding ponders Briareus option

ANDREW BALDING has revealed his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle sixth Briareus could next be seen at Liverpool in the Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle on April 8.

The six-year-old had to be supplemented for the Cheltenham race at a cost of £17,000 and despite getting outpaced coming down the hill, Balding was encouraged with the way he was staying on towards the finish.

“Briareus ran a nice race and stayed on well up the hill and looks like he’ll get further,” said Balding.

“We’ll probably have a look at the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles and/or the Scottish Champion Hurdle.”

Meanwhile, Balding’s globetrotting seven-year-old Vanderlin is in fine form ahead of a tilt at the Listed Doncaster Mile at Lingfield tomorrow.

The gelding was last seen finishing fourth in a Grade Two race at Woodbine in Canada last October after filling the runners-up berth in a Grade One at Keeneland, and will face six rivals in the mile contest.

“He is in very good form and hopefully he should run a big race,” said the trainer.