Straw Bear may take another tilt at the Champion Hurdle
Trained by Nick Gifford and owned by JP McManus, the six-year-old is due to return to the track this month with a run in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham- and if he impresses in this race, he could be kept to hurdling for the future.
Straw Bear is currently third favourite for the Arkle Chase at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival meeting but ante-post backers could be advised to keep their money in their pockets for that race until future plans have been firmed up for the talented horse.
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Hide AdHis poor performance in last season's Champion Hurdle, where he was pulled up, had been caused by a broken blood vessel. He had been due to contest the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle recently, a race which he won last year, but he was not quite ready for the race.
For full story and news of other Sussex jump trainers in form see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette December 12