Salver pencilled in for Windsor date

Salver is in line to make his return to the racetrack at Windsor later this month after his unfortunate final-hurdle fall at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

The Josh and Gary Moore trained five-year-old was still in contention in the Relkeel Hurdle when coming down at the last obstacle, with Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place going on to score.

Josh Moore was confident the four-times winner would have been right in the mix at the winning post if not for that mishap.

Moore reports Salver to have put the fall behind him, with the likely next port of call being in Berkshire at the end of the month.

He said: “He’s been fine. He was a bit sore from it. He’s very fresh out of it this morning, as he was on Saturday, so it seems as though he has recovered from it OK anyway.

“He’s shown his best stage of a race is towards the end, so he was yet to make a challenge and who knows where it would have gone, but we like to think he would have finished the race out nicely. It was unfortunate.

“Depending on how he trains over the next couple of weeks, he could go to the Winter Millions meeting at Windsor. There’s a two-and-a-half-mile conditions race there.

“Obviously, there’s the Cleeve, but the other day was a step up in trip and that would be a massive step up, but that’s only tentative. I’d say he could end up going to the Windsor Winter Millions meeting.”

Mark Of Gold made an impressive chasing debut at Ascot in the Grade Two Howden Noel Novices’ Chase, taking it up after the last fence to come home two and a half lengths clear.

The Moores are keeping their options open with the eight-year-old, who added chase glory to 10 previous triumphs over hurdles and on the Flat.

Moore said: “Mark Of Gold is in the Hampton (at Warwick) and also in the Towton at Wetherby (both on Saturday). He was meant to run yesterday at Plumpton but it was abandoned, so he might take up either of those engagements anyway.

“He jumped very well first time. It was a very impressive performance jumping fences for the very first time around Ascot, so wherever he runs, he’ll be an interesting runner.”

Goshen, who has also been successful on the Flat and in both jumps disciplines, has not been seen since winning an Exeter handicap chase in March but is expected to make a return later this month.

Moore added: “He might run at Ascot on the 18th, so hopefully in three weeks’ time he will be back.”