‘Similar route’ planned for Tony Martin star

Anibale Fly could make his seasonal debut early next month as connections map out another exciting campaign for the Tony Martin-trained gelding, who was third in this year’s Gold Cup and fourth in the Grand National.

The Cheltenham and Aintree showpieces are likely to be on the agenda again for the eight-year-old, who was also running a big race in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February when he fell at the second-last fence.

“He’s in good form and Tony is pleased with him,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“There are no plans yet. We’re just waiting on the ground. Hopefully we might see him out in early November.

“I don’t think he’ll go to Down Royal, but hopefully it will be somewhere around that time.

“You’d like to think he’d be going down a similar route again to last year.”