'Wincanton is the obvious target and then go chasing after that' - grand plans for Rubaud after repeat Kempton win

Rubaud will have the same short-term engagement before sights are set on a different challenge as he began his season with a repeat victory in the Listed 2m hurdle at Kempton.

Last season Paul Nicholls used the race as a warm-up for a victory in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, before Rubaud's limitations were exposed by Constitution Hill back in Sunbury over Christmas. 

Harry Cobden's lead looked under threat over the last two flights as the Ebor runner-up Kihavah loomed alongside, only for Rubaud to scoot seven and a half lengths away on the run-in for the lion's share of a £50,000 prize sponsored by TrustATrader.

"That was awesome," said Nicholls. "He's going to be a chaser at some point, but I don't need to when there are good hurdle races and there are no novice chases at the moment. Wincanton is the obvious target, then go chasing after that."

The only difference was Rubaud's colours, with Brendan McManus taking sole ownership when Chris Giles dispersed his racing interests in the summer. 

"Actually, for the £200,000 he cost, he was probably the best value of all the ones at the sale," added Nicholls.

Keatley has right approach

Kihavah's trainer Adrian Keatley struck with another smart member of his string in Model Approach, who was sketchy over a couple of hurdles but otherwise followed up his Sedgefield victory earlier in the month without much trouble.

Model Approach (Robbie Dunne) jumps the final flight in the Join Racing TV Today Juvenile HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Mr [Jim] Bolger told me he’d win the Triumph Hurdle after I bought him," smiled Keatley, whose Gale Mahler will attempt to collect a seventh consecutive victory on Friday in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham for the same owner, Jimmy Fyffe. "He could go for something at Cheltenham in November."

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