Bog Warriorset for drop in distance
The lightly-raced seven-year-old routed the opposition in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One and currently holds entries in the two-mile-one-furlong Racing Post Novice Chase and the Fort Leney Novice Chase over three miles.
With conditions at Leopardstown likely to come up testing, trainer Tony Martin is currently favouring the former.
“There’s not a bother on him and we were really pleased with how he did it in Fairyhouse,” said Martin.
“We’ll be looking at Leopardstown at Christmas for him next.
“He’s got the two options, but I would say with the way the ground is looking at the moment, he’ll probably run in the shorter race.
“He’s won over two miles and two and a half and he’s not short of pace, so there’s no point in stepping up at the moment.”
Bog Warrior revels in soft ground, but Martin feels he could also be effective on a sounder surface.
This leaves the door open for a potential trip to the Cheltenham Festival in the spring.
“Like all good horses I think he’d handle most ground, but I’m not looking beyond Christmas at the moment,” added Martin.
“We’ll get that out of the way before we start thinking about other places and we’ll just try and keep him in one piece first.”
Meanwhile Weird Al will not run in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Trainer Donald McCain has opted to keep his star turn on ice, and instead chart a route towards further gains in the spring.
The eight-year-old gelding was last seen finishing third behind Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, having previously won the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on his seasonal debut.
McCain said: “He’s fine – there are no issues – we only left him in for another stage (of the King George) as a precaution.
“We’d planned all along to wait and sit tight with him until the spring.”
Captain Chris, by contrast, is firmly on course to represent Philip Hobbs in the King George.
Johnson told Racing UK: “He schooled this morning and he felt very well. “Philip has been very happy with him the last week or so.
“The aim is the King George.”
