Brian Ellison is eyeing a tilt at the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle with his Cheltenham Festival contender Bothy.

A smart performer on the Flat for trainer Ralph Beckett, Bothy won at Taunton for his new trainer on Thursday and now he is looking at a trip to jumping HQ for his star.

"He only does enough, that's just him, he would never do anything very flash," said Ellison.

"He'll have one more run and then go to the Fred Winter.

"We sent him down there because he needs three runs to qualify. If we'd waited another week, you might leave it too late.

"He's only a young horse and he needs time between races so we'll give him another run and then go to Cheltenham.

"Keith (Mercer) said he wouldn't know how good he is because unless you ask him for it, he won't give you it."

Ellison also had news on his talented star Ultimate who will be out to get back to winning ways after finishing fourth at Cheltenham last time out.

"When he went to Cheltenham he pulled a shoe off at the start and when he came back he was sore for a week, yet he was still in front going to the last," Ellison explained.

"Some say he didn't get up the hill but I think it was purely the fact he pulled a shoe off. He ran for two miles with no shoe and its hard enough at Cheltenham with four shoes never mind three.

"Ruby (Walsh) thought the ground beat him more than anything else so he'll go to Musselburgh for the Triumph Hurdle Trial (February 7) and we'll take it one race at a time."

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