All options open for Monsignor

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Monsignor today emerged as a surprise potential contender for Istabraq's Champion Hurdle crown.

The seven-year-old gelding was touted as a Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect after winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at successive Festivals in 1999 and 2000. But he missed the entirety of last season through injury.

Trainer Mark Pitman confirmed that, although the unbeaten gelding is set to return to action next month, his programme remains undecided.

Bookmakers expect Monsignor to make his return over fences, with Coral rating him 10-1 co-second favourite for the Cheltenham Festival's Royal & SunAlliance Chase next March, the sport's top staying-novice event, behind French gelding Japhet at 5-1.

But Pitman could have even more ambitious plans for his stable star, who remained unbowed after six starts over hurdles as a novice.

"I don't think you can pick holes in his form," said Pitman. "He took on everybody that was around and beat them well. Best Mate probably gave him most to do when he chased him home in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and that was over two miles.

"We haven't even ruled out a crack at the Champion Hurdle with the horse as he has shown he can win a Grade One race over two miles." The Upper Lambourn handler reported Monsignor to be back in cantering exercise after getting "exceptionally large" during his lay-off. Pitman believes that two recent racecourse gallops at Stratford have helped to build his charge's fitness to make a December return a realistic target.

Meanwhile, Sleeping Night - the French recruit now trained by Mary Reveley - could face another ambitious assignment after his second to Gold Cup hope Sackville on his UK debut in Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase.

Sleeping Night could take on reigning two-mile chase champion Edredon Bleu on the latter's comeback outing in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Saturday week.

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