Kerry Lee enjoyed Grade 2 success courtesy of Nemean Lion’s fierce performance in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.
Runner-up in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last month, Kerry Lee's decision to pitch her seven-year-old back into Graded company and bypass the Betfair Hurdle last weekend proved a wise one, as the son of Golden Horn ran on strongly to beat the Irish raider, Colonel Mustard.
The 6/5 favourite travelled strongly behind the front-running Rubaurd and Richard Patrick took up proceedings with a fluent leap at the last. Colonel Mustard attempted to close the gap up the run in and although Gordon Elliott's charge did get within a length and a half crossing the line, the result never looked in danger.
Lee said: "We decided to wait for this and why take on 20 others when you can take on four!
"The thing with him off a mark of 145 it would have been very tough off top-weight (in the Betfair) – as we proved when second in the Lanzarote, it is very tough giving weight to unexposed horses so that is why we took in this race.
"He had an entry in the Rendlesham as well today, but I just wasn't keen on going over three miles on heavy ground for the first time."
Paddy Power make the winner a 25/1 shot to claim Stayers' Hurdle glory at Cheltenham in March and although a step up in trip could be on the cards in the not-so-distant future, Lee earmarked Aintree a more likely target than Prestbury Park next month.
"We're very lucky in that we've got a versatile horse, he's got the speed for two miles, stays two-five and he wasn't stopping there, and it would be good to explore further – but at the same time we don't need to."
She added: "I wouldn't run him back quick as he puts everything into his races, we'll just weigh everything up.
"I wouldn't rule out Aintree (Aintree Hurdle), there's a race on Irish National day at Fairyhouse he could go for, we've got lots of options and we'll chat to the team and see which is the best one. We'll enjoy today first.
"These days are great for a small yard like ours with 20-odd horses. He's a real character, he loves being in a yard where he gets all the attention."
