The progressive Wonderwall saw his odds slashed for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March after posting an impressive first win over obstacles at Doncaster on Tuesday.
The 6/4 chance was scoring at the second time of asking over hurdles for Newmarket trainer Richard Spencer and his Rebel Jumping group of owners when outspeeding market rival City Chief in the 2m5f Maiden Hurdle on Town Moor. Wonderwall is now 22/1 to win the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.
Sat not far off a decent pace set by eventual third Lubeat Foras, Wonderwall was still on the bridle under James Bowen at the last before sprinting clear on the Flat to record a three length win.
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Named after the Oasis anthem, Wonderwall had looked like collecting first time out over hurdles at Newbury in December until clouting the last. but made handsome amends in Yorkshire.
Wonderwall set for Cheltenham return
The son of Yeats has already appeared at one Cheltenham Festival, having finished seventh in the Champion Bumper in 2021, and Spencer is hoping to get one more run into his six-year-old before returning to the Gloucestershire bash in two months time.
Spencer said: "Wonderwall is a very good horse, the plan's been the Ballymore all along and that's where we're going to try and go. Before that, there's trials day at Cheltenham and the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon."
He added: "We thought he'd win at Newbury and if he hadn't made the mistake he would have done. He's going to be a better horse when he jumps a fence as he respects a fence more than a hurdle. He has so much ability. He's the best jumper we've got - we haven't got many but he works with many of the very good Flat horses. He has a lot of natural speed and he stays."
