Soto set for Kempton challenge

Paul Webber has his eye on a prize at Kempton over Christmas for former high-class bumper horse De Soto.

The five-year-old broke his maiden in a novice hurdle at Taunton earlier in the month, beating the highly-touted Ouninpohja into third place.

After finishing second to the ill-fated Missed That at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005, he was beset by problems and only raced twice before scoring impressively two weeks ago.

Incredibly, he was Webber’s first winner for 178 days but that success has signalled a return to form for the yard.

“We were so pleased with him,” reported Webber. “He should have had a good season last year but he had a few little problems.

“The plan with him now is to probably go to the first race at Kempton on (St Stephen's Day) (stanjamesuk.com Novices’ Hurdle) over two miles.

“He ran in a tongue-tie at Taunton. He used to run in a tongue-layer so I don’t think it made a lot of difference but it just took the doubt out of everybody’s mind.

“I think he will go on most ground. We probably wouldn’t run him on good to firm ground but it was pretty soft at Taunton and he seemed to manage it pretty well.

“He quickened up very well last time and he is a pretty classy animal, hopefully. It’s been a difficult time but we have a yard full of young horses and we have just had to be patient.

“A few of the bumper horses ran pretty well last week. Kate’s Gift ran a cracker in what was probably a pretty hot bumper at Catterick and Edgbriar was also second so they seem to be coming back, finally.”