DONALD McCAIN is likely to send his exciting juvenile Hollow Tree for the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas.

The former decent Flat performer has won two of his three starts over hurdles including a bloodless victory at Ffos Las last month.

He had previously scored on his debut over obstacles at Bangor in September before being beaten only by Hinterland at Cheltenham in November.

He has come out of his Ffos Las success well and is a 33-1 chance with Coral for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

But he is set to step up to Grade One company next time on December 27.

McCain said: “I was delighted with him as I didn’t want him to have a hard race. It was horrendous ground so he had enough of a race, but did it easily.

“I was pleased to see him handle the ground and now we know he does, we’ll aim him at the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. I have it in my mind he’s going to want to step up in trip somewhere along the line but then they say a Triumph Hurdle horse needs to stay that bit further, so we’ll see.

“You’d like to think he’ll be at Cheltenham for something. Whether it’s the Triumph Hurdle or the Fred Winter.”