Ashley Park, a leading contender for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, is on course to return to action at Kempton Park over Christmas, it was revealed today.
The Mark Pitman-trained six-year-old finished fourth behind Istabraq in last season`s hurdlers` crown on only his second start over timber to earn a quote of 10-1 from William Hill and Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle.
'I thought he ran a superb race at Cheltenham on his second-ever start over hurdles,' Pitman told Channel 4 Racing.
'He hadn`t run for 14 months and to finish four lengths beaten by Istabraq was a top-class run.
'He worked very well this morning and the plan is to run him in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton the day after Boxing Day.'
Pitman has high hopes that Ashley Park will be able to turn the tables on Istabraq in March.
He said: 'I think he`s one of the few horses around at the moment that could actually beat Istabraq. You`ve got to say that on form. The form is there for everyone to see.
'We actually feel that he`s improved from last year. The jockeys that have been riding him say he`s a little bit more relaxed - he`s moving better.
'He`s a very exciting horse but he`s got fragile old pins and that`s why he`s only run so few times.
'But he does warm up a morning when you see him coming up those gallops. He is a very, very useful animal.'
