Hero possible for Elite bid

Steve Gollings is considering a possible tilt at the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton with Local Hero.

The five-year-old showed high-class form during his juvenile campaign over timber, but missed much of the last National Hunt season due to injury.

He has returned in superb shape, however, running some good races both over obstacles and on the level and he has plundered two valuable Listed handicaps at Market Rasen on his last two starts over jumps.

Gollings said: "I think to win the Summer Hurdle and the Prelude Hurdle is a hell of a performance. We're delighted with him.

"It was a bit of a tardy start from him the other day. The second horse got a bit of a run on him and I thought jumping the second-last that if he finished in the first three he'll have done well.

"But he's lion-hearted and stuck to his guns to get up and I think he's still improving. He had to progress to win that race last weekend.

"I think the improvement in his jumping is a key part of it. We put the cheekpieces on him and his jumping has improved no end.

"He's rated 151 now, so there aren't that many races he can run in.

"He'll have to have a break at some stage, but he has come out of his last race so well, if the owner agrees we might have a crack at the Elite Hurdle on November 10.

"Historically there aren't many runners in the race, there might not be too many superstars in it and it might just be worth a crack.

"We won the race with Royal Shakespeare going back a few years (2005) and while I'm not saying this horse will go and win it, it's not that far away and if he remains in good form I think it's worth a go."