Thursday 29 January 2015 14:57, UK
Otago Trail could be bound for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after winning in style at Wincanton.
The Venetia Williams-trained gelding won one of his three bumper starts last season and barely came off the bridle when scoring by 15 lengths on his introduction to hurdling at Carlisle in November.
That win came over two and a half miles but dropping back to the minimum trip for the opening CW Accountancy Services Novices Hurdle proved no barrier to success as he sauntered home to win by 23 lengths in extremely testing conditions.
Jockey Aidan Coleman could afford a long leisurely look behind on the run-in and the 8/11 favourite powered home ahead of Scoop The Pot and Triple Chief.
Willaims told Racing UK: "He's always been a horse we've liked and he has handled the conditions much better than anything else out there today.
"He has an entry for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but we wouldn't be running him at all if the conditions weren't suitable. If it was good, then we wouldn't be going there.
"If we miss Cheltenham we certainly won't be going to Aintree and he may end up not running again this season.
"This year has been an education and it's all gearing towards next near over fences."
