Weird Al has Cheltenham aim but target undecided

Ian Williams hopes progressive chaser Weird Al will soon be back on the track and heading towards the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old was unbeaten in five starts for the trainer - four of them over fences - before he blotted his copybook when a well-beaten eighth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.

Weird Al has not raced since and Williams said: "He had a wind operation after the Hennessy but has taken it well and he is back in full training now. Hopefully he will be given a run next month and if things go to plan, he'll go to Cheltenham, although at this stage we don't know for which race."

Wierd Al has already won twice over fences at Cheltenham and took the Grade 2 totesport.com Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby last February. And Williams confirmed that he intends to send Wayward Prince there for the renewal of the 3m 1f event.

The seven-year-old signed off last season with a Grade 1 novice hurdle win and is unbeaten in two starts since switching to fences, although he has not run since winning at Cheltenham in November. "The hope is to end up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham," said Williams.

Hurricane Fly has been cut to 9-2 second-favourite from 5-1 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after his success in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "I think he'll head straight to Cheltenham now."