Salsify set to return over Christmas
The Rodger Sweeney trained nine-year-old became a dual winner of the Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival when recording back-to-back successes in 2012 and 2013, but was forced to miss a hat-trick bid in March after a setback.
Sweeney said: “He’s OK and is back working away.
“We’ll take things one day to the next, but he’ll probably run some time after Christmas, maybe on St Stephen’s Day.
“You won’t see him out before that. If we can get him back to where he was, it will take a good one to beat him.”
Meanwhile Cheltenham Festival runner-up Carsonstown Boy is limbering up for his return to action.
The Colin McBratney-trained 10-year-old was sent off a relatively unconsidered 40-1 chance for the CGA Foxhunter Chase in March, but defied his odds in running a fine second to the classy Tammys Hill.
McBratney said: “He’s about three weeks away from a run and is in good form.
“We’ll look at a point-to-point in Northern Ireland and then, hopefully, he’ll go for the race he won at Thurles last year.
“After that it will be all about Cheltenham again.”
