Cheltenham Festival 2018 – Warren Greatrex runs through his potential team for Prestbury Park next month

WARREN GREATREX has given Western Ryder the green light to run in the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday.

Greatrex's six-year-old is looking to get his season back on track following a heavy defeat when favourite for last month's Tolworth Hurdle.

Greatrex said: "I would be favouring Huntingdon. I think that is probably the best place to go. The ground will be better there.

"The weather will be a big factor in it as it is going to be cold this week. If he doesn't go to Huntingdon I would have thought that will be it and he will then go straight to Cheltenham."

Western Ryder is one of several horses Greatrex hopes to send to Cheltenham in March.

Mulcahys Hill and Keeper Hill could also both head to Prestbury Park.

"Mulcahys Hill ran a bit below par at Cheltenham. I think that was my fault running him back too quickly after he finished second in the Challow at Newbury," said Greatrex.

"We will aim him at the Albert Bartlett at the Festival and just hope it gets softer during the week. We will not be running him if it is on the quick side. He definitely needs soft in the description.

"Keeper Hill jumped very well until he fell the other day. He was still in front and I think from that position it would have been hard for anything to get past him as he does stay very well.

"It is never ideal and you don't want to be going to Cheltenham on the back of a fall. We are going to do plenty of schooling with him.

"He is in the RSA and the National Hunt Chase and we will probably put him in the Ultima. I still think he can run a very good race at Cheltenham."