Fred Winter Hurdle on Hinterland agenda

Paul Nicholls is leaning towards running Hinterland in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle rather than the Triumph at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The French import was an early ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after an impressive win at Cheltenham in November, but was beaten by Baby Mix on his next start.

Nicholls decided to run him in a handicap last weekend and after being held up by Ruby Walsh, he was beaten into third by Tom George’s Module.

“He doesn’t want to step up in trip, he’s got bags of speed, it just didn’t unfold right for him on Saturday,” Nicholls told At The Races.

“He ran a bit free and after the second last he got in behind a bit of trouble and he couldn’t quite find his way through. I think he ran a solid race.

“He’s got options at the Festival and the Fred Winter might just be the race for him.”