Neil King “can’t wait” to get started for the season with his Aintree bumper winner Lookaway, but will not be risked until conditions soften in the UK.
The son of Ask was winning a Kildorrery point-to-point this time last year before transferring to King for ?170,000 at the Goffs December point-to-point sales at Yorton.
He went on to justify that price tag by winning at Newbury on his Rules bow, before taking the step up to Graded company in his stride to land the Aintree bumper in good style.
The form of that Grade Two contest got a timely boost when Leave Of Absence and Blow Your Wad – third and fourth respectively at Aintree – fought out the finish of an Ascot novice hurdle on Saturday and King has been pleased with what he has seen from his charge at home in recent months ahead of his own novice hurdle campaign.
However, the Wiltshire-based handler is in no rush with his star prospect, with Lookaway described as “far too special” to run on quick early-season ground.