Nicky Richards plans to go straight to the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase with Simply Ned.
Runner-up at Grade One level as a novice over fences last season, the eight-year-old made a winning return in a Kelso handicap in early October before chasing home Uxizandre at Cheltenham the following month.
He then travelled to Ireland for his latest start and performed admirably to finish third in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.
Richards feels Simply Ned can raise his game another notch on a sounder surface at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
"I think we'll go straight to Cheltenham," said the Greystoke handler.
"The Game Spirit (Newbury) is shaping up to be hot, so we may as well go straight for the big one for more money.
"On his breeding, he shouldn't be a two-mile chaser, but the lads in Ireland were saying what a great horse he is as any ground comes alike, really.
"I was looking at the betting and you've got the big two (Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy) who haven't run this season, and then you'll probably have Al Ferof and the rest our lad has beaten.
"I'm not saying he's going to go and win, but he's the one who will appreciate the better ground the most."
