Alsadaa camp issue Tolworth warning

Laura Mongan will not risk Alsadaa in Saturday’s Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown if the ground is testing.

The Epsom trainer intends to make the short journey to the Esher course to assess conditions before making a decision.

“He wants good ground, he’s proved that. He’s in good form and this is a race we’d like to go for,” she said.

“Time will tell, but if it was testing we wouldn’t want to chance it with him - he owes us nothing now.

“I’ll probably go and walk the track on Friday. We’re only 15 minutes down the road and if I’m not happy we just won’t go.”

The five-year-old has won all three completed outings over hurdles before running a fine race on his handicap debut when only beaten a length by the well-backed Jack The Giant in the Ladbroke at Ascot.

“He ran an absolute blinder. Obviously it was a shame he didn’t win and that the winner just got in the race,” Mongan continued.

“He did everything right at Ascot up against some nice handicappers.

“He’s improved every time he’s run and he came back from Ascot bouncing. He’s so well in himself.”

While the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham remains the long-term target for Alsadaa, Mongan is also considering the totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury on February 9.

“If we miss Sandown he might well go to Newbury for the totesport (Trophy) Hurdle,” she added.

“But obviously we would like to go to Cheltenham in March.

“That would be our aim and ideally if we dream we’d like to go for the Supreme Novices’.

“I see no reason why we can’t aim high.”