Sandown Grade 1 test could be next step for Soul Icon
- Planet Sport writer
- 11 November 2024
Soul Icon could be aimed at Sandown’s Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase following his near-miss in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.
The seven-year-old has finished second on his last five starts and produced arguably a career best after losing out by a neck to Dan Skelton’s Boombawn in the Boodles Rising Stars Novices' Chase.
Trainer Keiran Burke could step Soul Icon up to Grade One company at Sandown on December 7 with the forecast to remain dry over the coming weeks.
“Yet again he was second, he keeps knocking on the door and it’s not that he’s ungenuine or anything like that, he just keeps bumping into one, which is frustrating,” said Burke.
“He’s not out of place in that grade, especially on that ground, and Wincanton was definitely the right race to go for.”
“I’ve been having a chat with Tom Bellamy (jockey) and the long-range forecast looks quite dry still. We did think about entering him in the Henry VIII at Sandown, the Grade One.
“It would be frustrating to finish second in a Grade One, but I would take it. That might be a plan, but nothing is set in stone at the minute, that’s just our initial thoughts.
“When the rain comes, it will probably come, so that’s when he can have a break again.”
