Kempton ‘might be worth looking at’ with Golden Ace

Jeremy Scott may target the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle with Golden Ace, if the race appears short of another standout contender.

Proving once more that jumping is the name of the game, the admirable mare again took full advantage of her main rivals failing to complete in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle at the weekend, just as she did in the Champion Hurdle in March.

Scott feels jumping is now her biggest asset and while the International Hurdle in January remains her likeliest next target, she could be rerouted should the Boxing Day feature at Kempton Park look short on opposition.

“She’s come out of it very well and we couldn’t have been more delighted,” said Scott.

“When you see her jumping the last like she did, it’s a bit scary, as she does not get any height at all, but she snaps her front legs up and wastes no time.

“I think it is that which has improved the most, she actually travelled really well on Saturday, but it was her slickest round of jumping.

“I’ve always been convinced that she stays very well, but last season we lost quite a lot of speed. I think we’ve gained that back again now. She’s better than we had her last year.”

Golden Ace’s second Grade One win came following a mystifying seasonal reappearance at Wetherby that still has Scott flummoxed.

He said: “Before Wetherby I was convinced we had her almost as well as she had ever been and she went and ran as she did. Watching her there I was thinking, ‘I clearly don’t know what the hell I’m talking about’.

“It was a great relief that she bounced back. It was just a shame everything went wrong for the other two, nobody wants to see that. We all want Constitution Hill to be a superstar, I felt very sorry for Nicky (Henderson) and Mr (Michael) Buckley (owner).

“I did think we were going away from the other two (Anzadam and Nemean Lion) at the line her stamina was coming into play there.

“We had initially said to stick to the original plan and go for the International in January and then the Champion.

“While I’m not sure Kempton would be her ideal track, I don’t know of too many others who are going there. I’ve seen Sir Gino mentioned, but if I thought that was a relatively soft target we could run there and forget about the International. It might be worth looking at.”