Noel Chance has set his sights on the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Punchestown on December 10th for the former Paul Nicholls-trained Flagship Uberalles.
Apart from the #50,000 prize money the trip will be very much a reconnaissance mission and Chance explained: 'From the start of the season we decided to step him up a little bit in trip, basically we want to find out if he will get the trip in the King George (at Kempton on Boxing Day).
'We did not want to be guessing whether he would get the three miles in the King George, but if he gets the two and a half miles comprehensively well we would then consider running him at Kempton.'
'If he did not get two and a half he certainly wouldn`t get three, and believe it or not that Punchestown race is the only race for him really other than handicaps - and I did not want to go down that road.
'The horse is in good form, he has worked with Looks Like Trouble and has had a racecourse gallop.
'I am happy with him and obviously we will start increasing the tempo with him and hopefully everything will go according to plan.'
Chance reports that is all systems go for Looks Like Trouble`s trip to Down Royal on Saturday for the rescheduled James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase and he added: 'Putting back the race a week upset me more than the horse!
'This has been the plan since July, then suddenly it is put back a week, it unnerves you. You have got to work him again and school him again and you are opening up the risk of injury.'
However, he concluded: 'Obviously we are pleased the race will be run this weekend and with what looks a decent forecast it could be good ground over there. Richard Johnson rides.'
