Hughes looks to next season

Dessie Hughes is looking forward to next season with Siegemaster, who signed off for the campaign at Aintree on Friday.

The eight-year-old bounced back from his fall in the RSA Chase to finish third to Killyglen when the subject of a gamble for the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

“He won’t run anymore this season,” said the Kildare trainer.

“He’s a big raw horse and probably didn’t quite finish his race but he’s a horse to look forward to next year.”

Schindlers Hunt, who failed by only a head in a ding-dong battle with Voy Por Ustedes in the Melling Chase on the same day is also likely to be roughed-off.

“He’s fine. If he’d have jumped a bit cleaner he might have won,” said Hughes.

“That might do him for this year too.”

However, Hughes has not quite decided whether Hardy Eustace will run again this spring.

The dual Champion Hurdle hero was ninth to fellow Irish raider Solwhit in the Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.

“He was going well and I was disappointed he didn’t quicken but I suppose he’s entitled not to,” said the trainer.

“I thought he ran well to a point and he’s come out of the race good.

“Most of the Cheltenham horses ran the same as he did – Celestial Halo just didn’t finish and the fresh horses were there up front.

“I don’t know what we’ll do with him. It might be a bit hard on him if we took him to Punchestown.”