Foxhunter fancy Shantou Flyer begins route to the festival at Warwick

The 157-rated Shantou Flyer gets his hunter chasing career under way at Warwick on Monday in the Overbury Stud Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase (3.45).

Many have debated as to whether such a horse should be allowed to run in these races, but with the draw of the Cheltenham Festival being stronger than ever, new owner-rider David Maxwell was always likely to take this route.

The nine-year-old is a best-priced 7-1 second favourite for the Foxhunter at the festival and trainer Richard Hobson said: "I'm glad we didn't run at Taunton as it just went a bit quick for him and he didn't deserve to run on that. It'll be nice ground as they've had some rain and he's in great order.

"He'll be peaking for the festivals this year, he's very much ready to run and fit enough to do himself justice, but he loves coming on for each run."

Provided he finishes in the first two, Shantou Flyer will move a step closer to qualifying for the festival in March, with two such placings in nominated hunter chases required.

Henderson hotpots

Nicky Henderson had a super Saturday with four winners and a second from five runners and the Cheltenham Festival could come under consideration for two of his Warwick trainees should they to win well on Monday.

Henderson saddles the JP McManus-owned French import Laskadine in the Racing TV Free For A Month Juvenile Hurdle (1.00), while the Mike Grech and Stuart Parkin-owned Yellow Dockets lines up in the racingtv.com/freetrial Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (1.30).

Laskadine, Barry Geraghty's only ride on the card, was bought from Guy Cherel's yard after winning a Listed three-year-old fillies' hurdle at Auteuil by six lengths in September, while Yellow Dockets won for the first time on hurdling debut over course and distance on New Year's Eve after placing in a point-to-point and two bumpers.

Henderson said: "They're both in good form and I'm looking forward to running them. We think they've got good chances, that's why we're running them.

"They're two nice fillies and Yellow Dockets won well the other day, Laskadine is a four-year-old so we've got to get a start into her over English hurdles. She's won in France, she's nice."

He added: "We'll see how they get on tomorrow before we talk about Cheltenham."

Appleby: 'they've got us to beat'

At Wolverhampton, Charlie Appleby believes his Kinver Edge is the one to beat in the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Novice Stakes (5.25).

Fourth on debut at Chelmsford earlier this month, Appleby reported the three-year-old to have come on for that run and said on Sunday: "He was promising on debut and he's come forward for that run, as Adam [Kirby, rider] said, in an ideal world he didn't want to be left in front so far out on a debutant, but the pace collapsed and he was there three furlongs out.

Charlie Appleby: 'I think they've got us to beat.'Credit: Peter Mooney

"He's come forward and he should be bang there tomorrow. Obviously we respect Richard Fahey's horse [War Tiger], who brings some form into the race, but we're pretty confident with our fellow. He's come forward enough and I think they've got us to beat."

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com