Adonis test for Mobaasher

Charlie Mann is to target his promising juvenile hurdler Mobaasher at the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on February 24 as the gelding’s warm-up race for the Cheltenham Festival.

A half-brother to 1000 Guineas winner Russian Rhythm, the ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate made the perfect start to his jumping career when scoring impressively at Fontwell on Sunday, after which he was quoted at around 40-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Mann, who could have as many as four novice hurdle runners at the showpiece meeting next month, said: “It turned out to be a nice easy race for him which should have done his confidence the world of good.

“He’s a nice big horse, can only improve, and my feeling is that the way to prove himself for the Triumph is to take on better horses at Kempton.”

Mann has a live outsider for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle in the shape of My Turn Now, who survived a terrible last-flight fall just as he was launching his bid in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, won by Silverburn.

The trainer added: “My Turn Now came back without a scratch on him and will have his prep for Cheltenham at Taunton on March 1.

“I have a possible for the Brit Insurance Hurdle in Air Force One and the intention is to take him straight to Cheltenham.”