James Owen has his sights set on an early outing at Cheltenham with Royal Ascot winner Burdett Road, who stamped his authority over his rivals in impressive fashion when making a winning debut over hurdles at Huntingdon on Sunday (November 7).  

The Newmarket handler left the Cambridgeshire track full of enthusiasm after the gelded son of Muhaarar made an instant impact on his switch from the Flat in the Juvenile Hurdle to initiate a double for jockey Harry Cobden on his 25th birthday.   

After winning the Golden Gates Stakes at the Royal meeting in June when trained by Michael Bell, the Gredley Family-owned three-year-old was not for stopping under Cobden in the two-mile contest, which the 4-9 favourite claimed by 12 lengths.  

Owen said: "It can only go wrong when they are odds-on like that, but he had done lots of schooling at home.

"I would have loved to have seen him settle better, but he did switch off fine when he got to the front, and he jumped fine on the whole, with the exception of a couple of little mistakes.  

"If it is not deep ground, we will go for the Grade Two Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham later this month and learn a bit more about him. "

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There was further success for birthday boy Cobden after Mofasa built on an encouraging first start over fences when seeing the extended two miles and seven furlongs trip out best of them all in the Premier League Offers At Rhino.Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.   

After finishing second on his chasing debut at Worcester, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old battled on gamely to defeat top-weight Captain Morgs by a length and a half. 

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Cobden said of the 5-4 favourite: "I had a challenge from Nico (de Boinville) on my outside, but he dug deep to win nicely in the end.

"I think he was always going to keep finding a little bit more."