Silver Streak set for familiar Kempton return - but won't be taking on Goshen

Silver Streak, hero of last season's Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle, will head back to Kempton on Sunday to launch his campaign in the Listed hurdle he has won for the past two seasons.

A mainstay of the Evan Williams yard, Silver Streak was particularly impressive when defeating high-class mare Verdana Blue in the two-mile contest 12 months ago and returned to Kempton on December 26 to win his first Grade 1 in the Christmas Hurdle.

"Sunday at Kempton is where we'd like to start," said Williams. "There are only so many places he can go, so it would make sense to start him where we've started him for the last couple of seasons and we'll soon find out where he is as far as his wellbeing."

Silver Streak: the grey warrior who had an unconventional route to the top

Owned by Les Fell, Silver Streak had a rollercoaster of a year last season, being carried out at the second hurdle in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, going down in a photo finish in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham and then enjoying his crowning moment back at Kempton over Christmas, and he looks likely to he involved in the same sort of races again this season.

"The only thing we've got on our mind are the races before January," added Williams. "There's no point in us looking any further. We'd like to go to Kempton on Sunday, we'd like to try to get to Newcastle and we'd like to get to Kempton again over Christmas.

Silver Streak saw off Epatante in last year's Grade 1 Christmas HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

"When you've got a Grade 1 penalty it's very tough but there's no doubt that good ground plays to his strength and Kempton Park plays to his strength.

"Winning a Grade 1 last season was very important for him. It meant an awful lot for us to have done it for the horse. He'd run so many good races in defeat, I was just very pleased to get the Grade 1 on his CV."

The going for Kempton's opening jumps meeting of the season was described as good, good to firm in places with seven days to go and a further 40mm of water will be applied to the track in two applications during the week.

Gary Moore had earmarked the same race for stable star Goshen to return in but with conditions going against him, he misses the race as connections wait for soft ground.

Goshen: misses Sunday's Listed hurdle at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I spoke to [clerk of the course] Barney Clifford the other day and he said it would be lovely ground but don't send a soft-ground horse so he won't be going there," said Moore.

"He'll go to the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton [on November 6] I hope but I might run him on the Flat before if we get some soft ground."

Winner of the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last season, Goshen threw away any chance in the Champion Hurdle in March when hanging badly to his right but thorough tests through the summer have failed to reveal any underlying ailments.

"They couldn't find anything," the trainer added. "Cheltenham wouldn't be off the cards this season – the owner wouldn't let it be – but we'll play it as we go and keep him right-handed as much as we can."

Moore also revealed that stablemate and impressive bumper scorer Shallwehaveonemore, who like Goshen is owned by Steven Packham, is set to make his debut over hurdles at Ascot on October 30.

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