Chief considered for chasing bow

Jimmy Moffatt has entered Chief Dan George for his first novice chase on Sunday - although the trainer stresses this may not mark the end of his hurdling career.

A Grade One winner last spring at Aintree, where he beat Wichita Lineman, Moffatt tried Chief Dan George with limited success in the Long Walk Hurdle and Long Distance Hurdle this winter.

The Cartmel handler has put his eight-year-old in the Betfair Novices’ Chase at nearby Carlisle this weekend but is not certain he will start.

“We are leaving our plans pretty open,” said Moffatt.

“We will be entering him in the (Ladbrokes) World Hurdle. Things have not gone right in his first couple of races and he needs a spin somewhere but there are a lack of suitable options.

“He jumps very well and Brian Hughes is coming up later in the week to school him.

“He’ll be entered for the SunAlliance Chase too, but he’s not a definite runner on Sunday at this stage.”