Ballymore Novices Hurlde second at the Cheltenham Festival, Black Op is set to go back over hurdles after disappointing in his two starts over fences this season.
The Tom George trained Grade 1 winning novice hurdler who is owned by Roger Brookhouse last season really put his name on the map as a smart hurdler after finishing second at Cheltenham behind Samcro and then going on to take the Mersey Novices Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.
The eight year old this season was primed by his trainer to be just as smart over fences but in his two starts he has not looked the same horse and rightfully the decision has been made to switch him back the obstacles he is proven over for the rest of the season.
The final straw for connections was when he finished a poor and way back in the field third on Tuesday in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices Chase at cheltenham.
(Credit Racing Post) Tom George said: "We have decided that he should revert to hurdles for the remainder of the season.
"Yogi, who has had a couple of sessions with him recently, would like to have him for a spell over the summer months to do some extensive schooling before a decision is made regarding his chasing career. He is likely to make his reappearance back over the smaller obstacles in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham later this month."
With the Cleeve hurdle looking set to be the big target for the hurdles superstar will he ever get back to being his best or is this season a right off for the talented eight year old?