Feltham next for Crozan

Impressive Cheltenham winner Crozan will make his next appearance in the Stan James Feltham Novices’ Chase on December 26.

The five-year-old comfortably beat Lough Derg at the Open meeting on his first run in this country since arriving from France and could follow the same path as stablemate Trabolgan, who won the Feltham last year before taking the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

There was some speculation Crozan would be aimed for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after Trabolgan’s recent injury and he was introduced into the betting with VC Bet at 20-1, but trainer Nicky Henderson has other ideas for his talented youngster.

He told the Racing Post: “It is the most ludicrous thing that I have ever heard, and it has never even crossed my mind that the Gold Cup might be an option.

“Crozan will run in the Feltham Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day, and as far as Cheltenham is concerned from my point of view it would either be the Royal & SunAlliance Chase or the Ryanair Chase over the shorter trip of two miles and five furlongs.”