'Exciting ´ French Ship Sailing Onwards And Upwards

All alternatives remain open for French Ship following his easy success at Newbury on Saturday.


Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's skilled had been raised 8lb for a win at Cheltenham in November, but he still looked ahead of the handicapper.


He has been hit with another 10lb rise as a result and connections now need to choose whether to till on with huge weights in handicaps or start into graded company.


"He's been set up 10lb, which is rather a walking, however equally it was an extremely strong performance," said White.


"We could not have been better with the run and also how he's come out of the race, which is the most essential thing.


"We've no specific strategies at the moment, we want to simply see how he is and then we'll go from there.


French Ship has actually been remarkable up until now this season (Steven Paston/PA)


"A mark of 146 methods we're either towards the head of the weights in good handicaps or he makes the leap into graded business, he remains in that territory now.


"He keeps seeming to improve, hopefully he'll improve enough to lump round off 146. Harry (Cobden) was extremely complimentary, understandably. He says he's got the gears to travel over shorter, but he also said he 'd remain further.


"He's a charming horse, who we are extremely delighted by."


It might be a big weekend for the Minehead lawn, with two of their interesting children due to be in action at different ends of the country.


Sober Glory, a 12-length winner on hurdling debut, is booked in for the Listed Betfair Exchange Claremont Novices' Hurdle at Sandown, while Captain Hugo beat 2 wise enters Sinnatra and Storming George when he last ran and goes north to Aintree.


White stated: "Sober Glory goes to Sandown on Saturday. I thought they 'd have a bit more rain yesterday, really, however he'll go there. Captain Hugo will go to Aintree on Saturday also, so we've lots to look forwards to."