Jagwar might be seen on Trials day at Cheltenham

Jagwar is likely to be stepped up to three miles in due course after he made his seasonal return with a third-place finish at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old’s jumping was far from fluent in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase as he showed rust from being off since his victory in the TrustATrader Plate at the Festival.

He kept on well though to only go down by one and three-quarter lengths, as the Sean Bowen-ridden Glengouly made virtually all to land the spoils for Faye Bramley.

Josh Guerriero, who trains in partnership with Oliver Greenall, felt the race was not run to suit but going up in trip in the spring will be more to the liking of the JP McManus-owned gelding.

Guerriero said: “It wasn’t an ideal race as they didn’t go any gallop. The front two were first and second the whole way and we were the only one that was stuck at the back of a slow gallop. It was just hard for him.

“He jumped like that a bit at the Festival really as well. It’s just him slightly. He can just be a bit scrappy here and there, but hopefully with experience he can get back to it.

“He might go to Cheltenham Trials day. He needs to improve for his step up in grade at the minute. He’ll probably end up stepping up to three miles for a good race, a good handicap in the spring.”