O’Neill considers Black Jack options
The eight-year-old gave the useful Faasel 8lb and a neck beating in the John Smith’s Hurdle after looking like he was going to win much easier.
The performance sparked much discussion regarding his best trip and O’Neill admitted the prospect of trying him over shorter is a real possibility.
O’Neill said: “He’s come out of the race on Saturday really well, he’s in grand old form and he obviously likes the quicker ground better than he does the softer ground.
“Personally I would like to give him a go over a shorter trip really, he’s nearly nine years of age now and we’re not sure about the (three-mile) trip.
“He’s won over it but he looked like he was all over the winner on Saturday again but then it doesn’t happen.
“I’ll talk it over with the owners in the next few days and see what they say, at the moment he is pencilled in to go to Newbury (Long Distance Hurdle, December 1) which is over three miles so we’ll have a chat and see what is best for the horse.” Black Jack Ketchum and stablemate Wichita Lineman hold entries in the two-and-a-half-mile Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
