Marsh Warbler set for Supreme option

Brian Ellison will give his impressive Finale Juvenile Hurdle winner Marsh Warbler an entry in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The youngster had won two of his first three starts over timber and handled the step up in grade with aplomb.

His victory, which came in very soft ground, shot him towards the head of the Triumph Hurdle market but Malton-based Ellison is also considering the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as the ground is likely to be at its softest for the first race of the Festival.

“You wouldn’t think he’d had a race, it took nothing out of him,” said Ellison.

“Fearghal (Davis) said he hit him on the run-in but he didn’t need to, he would have won without it.

“He picked up again after the last which was impressive.

“He won’t run again before Cheltenham and he’ll also have an entry in the Supreme Novices’ as well as the Triumph, but if it’s not soft enough he won’t run in either.

“He’s fine if it’s on the easy side of good, he just doesn’t want fast ground, but they get the best of the ground in the Supreme so it would be daft not to give him the option.”