Tolworth winner Metier to miss Aintree with Harry Fry considering Flat targets

Harry Fry is mulling over a potential big Flat target for Metier after confirming this season's impressive Tolworth Hurdle winner will not be heading to Aintree next week.

The five-year-old was a huge disappointment in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Sent off as the 11-2 second favourite, Metier was beaten 36 lengths by Appreciate It and finished last of the seven to cross the line.

But it has emerged that Metier was not quite right following the race and his trainer is keen to give him plenty of time in the hope that he will return to the same form as when he recorded three impressive wins over hurdles earlier this season, the highlight of those being his 12-length win at Grade 1 level in January.

"Metier wasn't quite right after the Supreme and we're just letting him come back to himself before making any immediate plans, but he will not be going to Aintree," Fry said.

"We're not putting it down to the ground at Cheltenham but it was clearly not his running given what we saw earlier in the season."

Metier currently boasts a Flat rating of 88 and showed a high level of form in Irish handicaps in 2019. Fry hopes there is still more to come.

Metier: could be heading back on the FlatCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He added: "He came off the Flat, so we could consider returning him to the level this year, but nothing has been finalised.

"There's plenty of major handicaps and whether we decide to have a go at one in the spring or in the autumn, we'll just have to see.

"First and foremost, we just need to get him back to himself and make sure he is 100 per cent."

Read more:

Harry Fry has Grade 1 star to enjoy as top novice Metier dazzles in Sandown mud

'Tough' Allmankind to bypass Aintree for Ayr and step up to two and a half miles

Harry Fry avoids punishment as top-class chaser tests positive for arsenic

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here