Ahoy Senor ‘seems in great form’ for Fleur De Lys test

Lucinda Russell is optimistic Ahoy Senor can get his season back on track in the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor on Sunday.

The dual Grade One winner made a promising start to his campaign when a staying-on third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October, but was disappointingly pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock the following month and has not been seen in competitive action since.

Russell considers the £165,000 feature on day three of the Berkshire Winter Million meeting as an ideal target for her 10-year-old, telling Sky Sports Racing: “We sort of made a plan for this race after the Betfair Chase and I think it’s the right race for him.

“Probably his best race so far this season was over two and a half at Aintree and we’ve been toying around with distances. Two-six will really suit him and soft ground is OK, if it dried a bit that would be even better.

“He seems in great form. He had a quiet week last week, which was a disaster really for horses like Ahoy Senor because he’s a very strong horse and we actually ended up taking him to Nick Alexander’s on Saturday just to give him a blow, because he was just getting over the top here.

“He’s done three canters today and is on course for the Fleur De Lys on Sunday.”

The Scottish trainer felt patient tactics backfired in the Betfair Chase and he looks set to be ridden more positively this weekend if the early pace is sedate.

“I just want to put a line through that run (at Haydock). It worked really well at Aintree when we held him up off the pace a little bit – he did get outpaced, but he stayed on really strongly,” Russell added.

“It’s just hard for these horses to keep making the running, but actually on reflection, we probably should have tried to make it in the Betfair Chase because they went so slow.

“I’ll leave it to Derek (Fox) what he wants to do on Sunday, but if it’s a slow pace, Ahoy Senor might be in front – and if it’s quick, then we don’t mind taking a bit of a lead.

“I’ve got no idea (how he’ll handle the track). It looks pretty tight with a few sharp bends, but it’ll be fine. For the prize-money, we can’t get too twitchy about tracks and stuff.”

On plans beyond Windsor, she said: “His aim is Aintree. I’d like to run him in the Gold Cup before then, but his owners are coming in tomorrow (Wednesday), so we can decide a little bit more then.

“I suspect it will be Fleur De Lys, then the Gold Cup and then the Bowl at Aintree.”