Ghizao 'definitely' going hurdling

Owner Andy Stewart has dismissed any chance of Ghizao running in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The five-year-old has won both his bumper starts to date, with his most recent victory coming in a Listed event at Cheltenham’s Open meeting in December.

Some bookmakers have quoted him for the Champion Bumper but Ghizao is already pencilled in to make his hurdling bow in the EBF National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle back at Cheltenham on December 11.

Stewart said: “Ghizao is a possibility for the EBF National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle on the first day of the Boylesports International (meeting).

“Once he got the beating of Lidar, he had a pretty easy race at the Open, but Alan King’s horses haven’t been running too well at the moment.

“He is definitely going hurdling now and it’s beyond me why he is still being quoted for the Champion Bumper.”