Mick Channon's star novice chase duo Sgt Reckless and Knock House, who produced faultless jumping displays on their chasing debuts, look set to be in action at Cheltenham's Open meeting next weekend.
Sgt Reckless, a 20-1 shot for the Racing Post Arkle, won at Uttoxeter last month despite pulling off his two front shoes in the sticky ground.
Channon said on Saturday: "He did well to win so well considering that dead ground was against him. I wouldn't look to run again in similar conditions and his next appearance will be governed by the ground.
"We'd been looking at Wetherby on Saturday, but may well throw him in the deep end at Cheltenham for the Grade 2 [Racing Post Arkle Trial] on Sunday if the ground is more suitable."
Knock House, who was foot-perfect when winning by 18 lengths at Fakenham, is likely to run at Cheltenham in the 3m 100yd Open Novice Chase on Saturday.
Channon said: "We were delighted with his jumping and this looks the obvious next step."
At Cheltenham on Friday, Blaklion looks a likely star turn in the Grade 2 Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the former point-to-pointer is on a six-timer, having most recently won Chepstow's Grade 2 Persian War Novice Hurdle.
Willie Mullins has three last-time-out winners entered for the Steel Plate and Sections Novice Chase, Alelchi Inois, Indevan, and Security Breach. Nicky Henderson's entries include Cup Final in the Intermediate Handicap Hurdle, run in the memory of Michael Scudamore.Jamie Snowden's Cheltenham Festival winner Present View is reported to have recovered from a cut leg and is on target for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup, for which he is 8-1 favourite.
Owned by Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick, Present View made his comeback in a hurdle at Cheltenham, having been rerouted from Huntingdon earlier that week when ground conditions became testing. He was two lengths clear at the last when he blundered, lost a shoe, and was beaten a head.
