Milton Harris: 'The plan for Scriptwriter is the Ebor - but who's to say we shouldn't have a crack at the Melbourne Cup?'

Connections of Scriptwriter have their aim set firmly on the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor at York next month after their Grade 2-winning hurdler was beaten by just a head in the John Smith's Silver Cup on Saturday – and a crack at the Melbourne Cup could follow.

A dual winner over hurdles, including in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham's November meeting, Scriptwriter was sent off at 10-1 under Clifford Lee at York after finishing seventh in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot on his previous start.

The son of Churchill belied those odds by making Hamish, rated 14lb superior, pull out all the stops to justify 4-9 favouritism, but trainer Milton Harris believes his runner could have won with a later challenge.