'He's lovely but he's also quite good' - exciting discussion awaits as Thomas Mor makes winning reappearance after 650 days off

Several tantalising options are open for Thomas Mor after he made a deeply impressive comeback from 650 days off the track in the 3m½f Pertemps qualifier.

One possible target is the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the other is a novice chasing campaign, both of which will be the subject of much discussion between his new trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White and owners Wayne Clifford and Ian Gosden.

Thomas Mor was last seen finishing sixth in the 2023 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle when trained by David Pipe and he resumed his career with another dogged effort under Sean Houlihan, who drove him two and a half lengths clear of Dartmoor Pirate. 

"It was great he could do it after such a long layoff," Hobbs said. "I've had him around three months and I was delighted with him. He's obviously a thorough stayer and he's a big horse too, so he's taken a fair bit of time to get ready – but he's ready now.

"He's lovely but he's also quite good. I've no idea what we'll do now as we were going novice chasing. His form from before is good, he obviously retains his ability and although he's eight, hopefully there will be room for improvement because he hasn't run that much."

The victory helped complete an excellent day for Hobbs and White, who also struck at Aintree with Imperial Saint. 

Gingell strike

Freddie Gingell won for the first time since returning from injury when successful aboard Ioupy Collonges in the 3m1f handicap chase for his boss Paul Nicholls.

The jockey enjoyed a headline moment aboard Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November, but was cruelly ruled out of riding the same horse at Cheltenham the following month. 

Read more:

Wetherby: Super-sub Charlie Maggs answers emergency call to ride first chase winner in Rowland Meyrick 

Kempton: 'He's the best I've had' - Harry Redknapp over the moon as The Jukebox Man seals Grade 1 breakthrough 

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