Martello Tower© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Mags Mullins believes her Cheltenham Festival hero Martello Tower has not been seen at his best so far this season ahead of his likely return to Prestbury Park for the World Hurdle.
The eight-year-old claimed a narrow verdict in last season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but has failed to make a serious impact in either the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown or the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park so far this term.
He is as big as 33-1 for the three-mile feature on day three of this year's Festival, but Mullins believes her charge will strip much fitter in March than he has for either of his two previous starts.
Mullins said: "I'm very happy with him. He's coming on all the time.
"I was happy with his run in Gowran as I felt he would need it. He wasn't back with us that early, the ground was very heavy and it's just taking time to get him fit.
"He came out of the race well and I think we'll probably go straight there (Cheltenham) now.
"Whether he's good enough to win there again, we'll see."
Another inmate Mullins has pencilled in for Cheltenham is the talented mare Ballychorus
The seven-year-old won three races on the bounce between early August and late September, but has fallen in both the Troytown Chase at Navan and the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown since.
"We've entered her in the four miler (National Hunt Chase), the RSA Chase and the Mares' Hurdle, but I think the four miler is probably the most likely," said Mullins.
"She's fallen the last twice, which is unfortunate, but she's good and the plan is to run her in a mares' race at Thurles next week, so we'll see how we get on there."
