'I don't think it's a waste of time' - wind op for Ahoy Senor as he is primed for latest tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup

Peter Scudamore hopes a wind operation can boost the chance of Ahoy Senor in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

Ahoy Senor has been pulled up on his last two starts but would be a challenger for jump racing's most prestigious prize if returning to his best, which has seen him win two Grade 1s and the 2023 Cotswold Chase.

The ten-year-old, affectionately known as Hank, galloped after Lucinda Russell saddled a treble at Kelso on Friday, an exercise her partner and assistant Scudamore hopes will lead to a much-improved effort next month.

He said: "It was a fitness thing because he'll go to Cheltenham, but also because he's had a wind operation and I wanted to let him know that his wind isn't hurting him. I'd like to get another gallop into him before the Gold Cup.

"He's clearly close to that level but he hasn't performed since Aintree at the beginning of the season, so after Windsor, when we were left pretty depressed, we sent him to Ben Brain [Cotswolds vet]. He also looked at Primoz, who he said there was nothing wrong with, but he found something with Hank."

Ahoy Senor: still being aimed at the Gold CupCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

Ahoy Senor ranges from 50-1 to 80-1 for the Gold Cup on March 14 with the hat-trick seeking Galopin Des Champs heading the market at 8-15 after a third Irish Gold Cup victory at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

Russell's stable star led the Gold Cup field in 2023 until capitulating at the 17th fence and both she and Scudamore believe having another try is worthwhile, especially considering the race could cut up. He is one of only five remaining British entries.

Scudamore said: "We were placed last year with Corach Rambler and Hank is a better horse than Corach over those sort of distances. We feel if we can get him back to his best, then he's capable of being placed, and we can go on to Aintree, where he runs so well. 

"It's worth a try. I don't think it's a waste of time. It's there if we can get it out of him."

Cheltenham Gold Cup, March 14
Paddy Power 1-2 Galopin Des Champs, 9-2 Fact To File, 6 Banbridge, 11 Corbetts Cross, 12 Monty's Star, 14 Grangeclare West, L'Homme Presse, 16-1 Grey Dawning 28s bar.

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