GUITAR PETE will skip a crack at a third Capsian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham in favour of a trip to Wetherby on Boxing Day.
Nicky Richards’ chaser won the contest two years ago and was far from disgraced when finishing third in the race last season.
He had been expected to line up again this year but instead Richards is looking to step him up in trip for the Rowland Meryick Chase.
Richards said: “He’s perfectly fine, they just haven’t had enough rain for him down there – over that trip I think he needs it now.
“We’ve been tempted to put him up to three miles for a while now and Mr Sloan (owner) said he likes Wetherby, so why not give him his first shot at three miles in the Rowland Meyrick.
“I think he bounced in November. He was off for nearly a year. In the past we’ve given him a run on the Flat to get him fit for Wetherby, but this year we went straight there. We should have been near the winner (Happy Diva) after where they finished at Wetherby.
“It was too bad to be true, but he seems to be bouncing, so we’ll go again on Boxing Day, he runs like he’ll get three miles – normally anyway, I know he didn’t last time.”
Meanwhile smart novice hurdler Ribble Valley will be out before then with a date booked in at Ascot on Friday.
Richards added: “He goes to Ascot for the (Sky Bet Supreme Trial) Kennel Gate. He seems very well, everything has gone great all season and he’s learning with every run.
“I thought he was fairly impressive last time, beating two horses from down south who were pretty decent on the Flat.
“It was very pleasing the way he did it and and he deserves to step up in grade.”
