Skippers Brig back at Ayr

Skippers Brig is on course to run at Ayr next month before a tilt at the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham in March.

Nicky Richards’ inherited the chaser due to the retirement of Lenny Lungo and on just his third start for the yard, he finished third in the Boylesports Gold Cup behind Poquelin.

The Peter Marsh at Haydock last weekend had been the plan but Richards suffered more than most at the hands of the weather and despite moving a portion of his string down to Newmarket, Skippers Brig was slightly behind schedule.

“He goes to Ayr on February 13 (victorchandler.com Handicap) and hopefully if we get a wettish spring, which we may not do, he’ll go to Cheltenham for the three-mile handicap there,” said Richards.

“That race could suit him but if it dries out, he won’t go anywhere. He’s got to have cut because he’s a giant of a horse.

“He’s got plenty of pace for a big horse but when we stepped him up to top-class handicapping, he just needs that extra half-mile.

“He won over three miles for Lenny Lungo last season. I’d say he’d stay all right, he came up the hill well at Cheltenham, he wasn’t stopping.

“Any sort of handicap race you are in the lap of the gods though.”