Golden Ace recovering from pulled muscle with connections set to make late decision on Cheltenham Festival target

Jeremy Scott believes a pulled muscle caused Golden Ace to jump right-handed in the Kingwell Hurdle but the injury will not see her ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival. 

Scott denied reports that last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner was out for the season and said she was still on track for the big meeting next month, while he is weighing up whether to run her in the Champion Hurdle or Mares' Hurdle on March 11. 

The trainer said: "She was hanging in the race and she's pulled a muscle somewhere, which we're treating, but it's nothing major. It usually takes a week or ten days to heal but she's back cantering. 

"I think it's just fine-tuning rather than getting too panicky. I was trying to find an explanation for her jumping and that's what we found. She seems fine."

Golden Ace beat Brighterdaysahead at the festival last year and could face that rival again in either of her potential targets at the festival, with the decision set to be made relatively late.

Golden Ace: trained by Exmoor-based handler Jeremy ScottCredit: Edward Whitaker

The seven-year-old is a general 8-1 chance for the Mares' Hurdle over two and a half miles or between 20-1 and 50-1 for the Champion Hurdle over two miles, with the latter looking her more suitable distance this season.

"I think we've got to see which way everybody jumps and what the ground does," Scott said. "If it's very soft ground we'd probably go over the shorter trip, but if it was fine and the good mares went to the Champion Hurdle then we'd probably look at the Mares' Hurdle. We're sitting on the fence getting splinters!

"We'll probably confirm her for the two entries, by which time we'll be getting a fairly good vibe where everybody's going. I wouldn't mind betting the connections of Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are thinking the same thing. We all want to win races and we want the easier race to win."

Mares' Hurdle, March 11
Paddy Power 8-15 Brighterdaysahead, 5-4 Lossiemouth, 5-2 Jade De Grugy, 4 July Flower, 5 Kargese, Take No Chances, 10 Kala Conti, 16 Jetara, 25 bar

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