Aintree and Punchestown options for Tom Symond’s Don Bersy who looks likely to skip an outing at Cheltenham

DON BERSY could have another outing before his planned run in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock next month.

Trainer Tom Symonds has identified the February 18 heat as a possible target for the four-year-old following his defeat of the well-regarded Coeur De Lion at Sandown.

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Owners Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings are keen to map a conservative route with Don Bersy and a trip to Cheltenham already appears unlikely.

However, Aintree or Punchestown could enter the equation if all goes well in the interim.

Symonds said: “He’s fine and came out of the Sandown race in really good form.

“The original plan was to go to Haydock for the Victor Ludorum, but that race is a month away and he is telling me that he is very, very well so we might look for a little race before then.

"The owners are keen not to try to do too much too soon and maybe a helter-skelter pace around Cheltenham would not be the best thing for him.

"They might look at Aintree and I think he's good enough - I thought that before he won at Sandown.

"We will see. Aintree could be an option, or even Punchestown."