Ellison delays Marsh decision

Brian Ellison will wait until Monday before deciding on Marsh Warbler’s target at Cheltenham next week.

The former Mark Johnston inmate leapt to prominence in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle with an impressive win in a Grade One at Chepstow, with the likes of Sam Winner, Smad Place and Houblon Des Obeaux in behind.

However, the juvenile loves to get his toe into the ground and Ellison feels by the time of the Triumph Hurdle on Friday it could be too quick, which may force him to run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.

“We are going to make our minds up on Monday,” said Ellison.

“Obviously we’d rather go for the Triumph and keep him against his own age group but the ground is the issue.

“We are just worried that if we waited until Friday and the ground got fast, which it looks like it could as they are watering now, and that would be dead against us.

“I know it looks a harder race on Tuesday but he isn’t going to win a Triumph on fast ground.

“We’ve had soft ground all year and now we are going to get to Cheltenham and it’s going to be fast.”

Ellison will also be sending the teak-tough Bothy down from his Norton yard where he will step up in trip for the Coral Cup.

Second in the Greatwood Hurdle and the rearranged totesport Trophy, the trainer hopes Danny Cook will be available to ride again.

“Bothy goes for the Coral Cup but we are stepping him up in trip because if we waited until Friday and the County Hurdle the ground would be too quick for him,” he added.

“He’s been brilliant this year. He’s as hard as nails and he worked brilliant (on Friday morning).

“As long as David (Pipe) doesn’t want him, Danny Cook will ride him again.”