Grade One-winning novice chaser Ahoy Senor has chance to show his Cheltenham Festival credentials in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase

Ahoy Senor is likely to have his credentials tested for the Cheltenham Festival’s Ryanair Chase when he runs in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase.

When Lucinda Russell’s nine-year-old lines up in the 2m 5f contest, it will be the first time he has run in a race shorter than three miles since he unseated Derek Fox at Carlisle on his steeplechasing debut in October 2021.

After two disappointing runs this season, Ahoy Senor showed more spark when fourth in last month’s Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, a performance that can be upgraded because jockey Stephen Mulqueen was hindered when his stirrups snapped at the fourth-last fence.

Ahoy Senor was in the lead when he fell at the 17th fence in last season’s Gold Cup.

Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant, believes Ahoy Senor’s form at a sharper track such as Aintree, where he is a dual Grade One winner, will equip him to operate at the shorter distance at Cheltenham.

Ahoy Senor (above) showed much more of his old spark last time out at Cheltenham

Scudamore said: ‘We will see how he gets on this Saturday. He is a longer price for the Gold Cup than the Ryanair, so he is not without a chance in it, and the fact he runs so well at Aintree may make the shorter distance better for him.’

Russell, who had a treble at Ayr yesterday, will run Grade One-winning hurdler Apple Again in Ascot’s Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase. That could be a stepping stone to the Festival’s Ultima Handicap Chase, a race Russell has won for the last two years with 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler.

Meanwhile, trainer Mouse Morris says Gentlemansgame is on track for a crack at the Gold Cup, having recovered from an injury which ruled him out of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

The grey gelding has not run since beating Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on November 4.