Detroit primed for Sandown test

Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City is poised to begin his serious preparations for next month's Agfa UK Hurdle after a spell on the easy list.

Owner Terry Warner reports the five-year-old to be in fine form after a short break at Philip Hobbs' Minehead stables and is looking forward to seeing how he fares in the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored feature.

Detroit City proved his versatility by winning the Cesarewitch on the level before notching a comfortable victory in the Greatwood Hurdle and also lowering the colours of dual champion hurdler Hardy Eustace in the boylesports.com

International.

"I think he's swimming in the pool every other day at Minehead and he's on holiday really," said Warner.

"He comes back three weeks next Saturday in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown and then straight to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle if all goes well, but with horses everything can be fine one day and they can be cast in their box the

next.

"He is very well at the moment though, I spoke to Philip Hobbs on Saturday and he said he was just following him back in off the gallops and he's fine.

"He has just had a bit of a rest but you can't let them down that much or they would lose all their fitness.

"He is very, very well and I think that whatever beats him will win the Champion Hurdle," he said.

Detroit City is a best priced 3-1 with Paddy Power for the hurdling blue riband in March.