Kayley Woollacott has issued an update on her stable star Lalor, stating he may go straight to the Cheltenham Festival without another run, if the ground remains too quick.
It has been the story for many trainers this season, so Woollacott is happy to wait for the Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster at the end of January for Lalor's final bit of preparation ahead of the Arkle in March.
However, if no rain falls, Woollacott would have no concerns sending the 7yo straight to Prestbury Park.
(Credit: Sky Sports Racing) She said: "Lalor is in really good form, he's done some lovely pieces of work recently.
"He's ticking along, looks great and has been squealing and bucking every day. We're really pleased with him at the moment."
"The plan is still the Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster at the end of the month, although we'll need some rain. As long as it's genuinely good ground, he'll be fine.
"If it's too quick, he'll go straight to Cheltenham, and I wouldn't be worried about the gap between races. He's always gone well fresh," said Woollacott.
Lalor opened his chasing account on debut in an Arkle Trial at Cheltenham back in November, but failed to handle the soft conditions in the Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown on Tingle Creek day.
The winner - Dynamite Dollars has since followed up his claims for the Racing Post sponsored trophy at the Festival, by bringing an end to Kalashnikov's unbeaten record in the Wayward Lad at Kempton.