Ground conditions to be deciding factor in Sporting John's festival target

Sporting John’s Cheltenham Festival target will be determined by ground conditions at next month’s meeting, trainer Philip Hobbs has revealed.

The six-year-old made his mark over fences when winning the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown this month and has been left in two races after the latest scratchings deadline, the Marsh Novices’ Chase or the longer trip of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Sporting John is generally available at 12-1 for the Marsh and a best-priced 16-1 with bet365 for the Brown Advisory.

Hobbs said: “We’ve taken Sporting John out of the Arkle and he will either now run in the Marsh or what was the RSA. It will all depend on what the ground conditions are like.

“If the ground was very soft you would stick to two and a half in the Marsh but if it wasn’t you would probably look at going further with him.

Envoi Allen: red-hot favourite for the Marsh Novices' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

“It was obviously very pleasing to see him win like he did and warm to the task at Sandown as it shows he is going in the right direction.”

Envoi Allen could await Sporting John if he runs in the Marsh. The Gordon Elliott-trained star remains unbeaten under rules and appears certain to contest Thursday’s opening race after being scratched from the Arkle and Brown Advisory.

A total of 15 runners were scratched from the Arkle, 14 from the Marsh and Brown Advisory and 16 from the National Hunt Chase. Klassical Dream, the 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner who has yet to make his debut over fences, was taken out of the Arkle and Marsh.

Unbeaten chaser Eklat De Rire was taken out of the National Hunt Chase but remains in contention for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, a race he is a best-priced 14-1 for.

Eklat De Rire: on course for the Brown Advisory Novices' ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

In the novice hurdles, the Dan Skelton-trained My Drogo was a notable runner to be taken out of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Gentlesmansgame impressed when finishing second to Gaillard Du Mesnil at the Dublin Racing Festival, but as Mouse Morris previously indicated it appears a trip to Cheltenham is unlikely this season after he was scratched from the Supreme, Ballymore and Albert Bartlett.

All of the key players in the JCB Triumph Hurdle remain after 12 horses were scratched, with favourite Zanahiyr taken out of the the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

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