Gordon Elliott has revealed that last season's Ballymore Novices Hurdle winner, Samcro, is to stay hurdling this season.
A point-to-point Monksgrange winner when with Colin Bowe, the chestnut gelding has proved to be one of the star pointing graduates in recent years, as a dual Grade 1 winner.
Elliott's announcement, which ends months of speculation as to whether he would be send over fences or remain hurdling, ensures that the six-year-old is to be aimed at the Champion Hurdle next March.
Reigning champion Buveur D'Air had been the ante-post favourite to regain his title at 3/1, however support for Samcro since the announcement has seen him supported into favourtism at 5/2.
Connections eluded that the Grade 1 winner may reappear in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on Friday, whilst he also holds an early entry in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown next month.
Plans for Samcro annnounced!
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) October 29, 2018
Read more here %u27A1%uFE0F https://t.co/YLVvRtsM6F
Watch the Grade 1 winner, score on his debut between-the-flags in 2016 below. pic.twitter.com/UmRUNkLNJ1