Quwetwo a doubt for Chasing this season

Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay will begin his campaign in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby on October 30.

The 2008 Arkle winner found himself back over timber last season after slightly losing his way over fences.

After winning the Cleeve Hurdle in January, he came up short behind Big Buck's at Cheltenham and Aintree.

'He's a funny horse. He's 10 years old now and we still haven't worked out what his best trip is and what obstacles he prefers,' owner Graham Wylie told Racing UK.

'He's probably going to start off at Wetherby in a three-mile hurdle and we'll take it from there. I'd like to see him go over fences again just once more because we do know that when he hits them right he looks fantastic, so we'll just see how he gets on at the end of the month.'

Wylie and Johnson have high hopes for the giant Quwetwo when he eventually goes chasing but that might be delayed for another season after he picked up an injury at Aintree.

His victory over Zaynar at Kelso showed the potential he possesses.

'Quwetwo is a possible for novice chases but we've had to look after his leg. He injured it at Aintree last time out which was why he came last,' added Wylie.

'We might get him back for February/March time so it's up in the air a bit as to whether he goes novice chasing.'

Prospect Wells was a high-profile purchase with Group One Flat form in France, however, not much has gone right with him since he joined Johnson.

He suffered complications after being gelded but did win at Pontefract in June.

'I'd like to say he was an interesting prospect but he's struggling to jump a hurdle at home. He jumps poles fine but hurdles seem to scare him a bit so it could take some time before we get his confidence up,' said Wylie.

'He wants softer ground as well so, hopefully, by December time we'll have him out somewhere at a smaller track and we'll see how he gets on.'