Ellison believes his youngster is improving with every race but is worried about unsuitably soft ground in Sunbury this weekend.

“He ran well at Musselburgh and I think the winner from that race will take some beating in the Triumph Hurdle,” said Ellison.

“He lost a shoe but the winner was just very good on the day.

“Our horse is improving all the time but the worry for Saturday would be the ground, as he wants it decent really and I wouldn’t want to see much more rain.

“The track will suit him but the ground would be the main concern at the moment.

“He’s in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but I don’t think we’ll go there with him. We might give him time to strengthen up instead, although he could go to Aintree.”

One Ellison inmate who is on his way to the Cheltenham Festival is Bothy, who took his hurdling tally to three wins from three starts at Taunton earlier in the week.

“He was good again the other day. He’s a tough, honest horse and to win three times on the bounce as a juvenile is a good achievement,” Ellison continued.

“He’s come out of it good and he’ll definitely be going to Cheltenham.

“The plan would be the Fred Winter but if he doesn’t get into that, we’ll let him take his chance in the Triumph Hurdle.”