Donald McCain is considering letting Cinders And Ashes head straight for the Stan James Champion Hurdle

Cinders And Ashes: Straight to Cheltenham?

Donald McCain is considering letting Cinders And Ashes head straight for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham without the aid of another run.

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle scorer has been a little disappointing in two starts this term, beaten at odds-on by Countrywide Flame in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before finishing a well-held fifth in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle.

McCain remains confident his charge will bounce back on better ground in the spring and as he was not ready enough to be given an entry in the 32Red Hurdle at Monday's additional meeting at Doncaster, the six-year-old is running out of options.

"The Doncaster race has just come up a bit quick. If I'd known it was going to be on sooner, we could have maybe aimed for it," said McCain.

"He's back on track now and I'm not sure if he'll run again before Cheltenham or not, we could go straight there."