O’Brien plots Dream Cheltenham route

Fergal O’Brien is eyeing a run in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham for Paint The Dream after swerving Sandown.

The six-year-old had looked poised to feature in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase over this weekend as he seeks a first win in four outings over fences.

But O’Brien is instead looking to keep a low profile for Paint the Dream, who was last seen finishing runner-up to Midnight Shadow in the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

And, when asked where the gelding is set to appear in the build-up to next month’s Prestbury Park Festival, he said: “We had one tilt at windmills (in the Dipper) and we were second. That was great and he will get into the Close Brothers now he’s qualified. That would be our plan.

“He might go to Exeter for a novice chase over two-mile-three. We might go there and see how we get on.”

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