Kempton beckons for impressive Flow

Strong Flow could to try to follow up his Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup win at Kempton Park over Christmas.

The six-year-old is on course for the Pertemps Aviation Resources Feltham Novices’ Chase at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day.

Trainer Paul Nicholls is planning to drop him back to novice company after his stunning success in the big Newbury handicap yesterday.

He said: “We have got to keep all out options open at present. But, at the moment, he should run in the Feltham at Christmas and then in the SunAlliance at Cheltenham but of course plans are fluid.”

Strong Flow is reported to be “never better” this morning after what was only his fifth start over fences.

Although the Royal & SunAlliance Chase is considered his main Festival target, Nicholls has not completely ruled out a crack at Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“You couldn’t dismiss the Gold Cup entirely considering the amount of things that can happen between now and then,” he added.

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Hennessy runner-up Joss Naylor said his gelding was “in great shape after one hell of a race” this morning.

The eight-year-old is now the ante-post favourite at 10-1 with the sponsors for the Coral Welsh National on December 27.

Martin Pipe summed up third-placed Take Control’s condition as “full of beans, considering the performance he put up”.

However, trainer Philip Hobbs says his runner One Knight is “sore” following his early exit in the race.

Plans for last season’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner are now on hold until the extent of his injuries are known after his first-fence fall.

“He’s sore. He’s got a bang on his head. We don’t know at this stage though how bad it is,” said Hobbs.

“He’s got a very swollen eye. Hopefully it will only be bruising but we don’t know yet.

“One Knight has a big haematoma on the side of his head near his eye and X-rays will be needed to see whether anything is broken.”