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Shantou Village may be stepped up in trip on his next start in his attempt to defend his unbeaten record.

Trainer Neil Mulholland has said that the five-year-old, who is favourite with many betting firms for next year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, could head to Doncaster next month for a shot at the Grade Two River Don Novices' Hurdle over an extended three miles.

After bolting up on his hurdling debut at Carlisle, he won in equally impressive fashion when stepped up in class at Cheltenham on his next start, form which has since been boosted by the runner-up.

Mulholland said: "Shantou Village is having a little break and he will be back out at the end of January. He will either go to Doncaster for the River Don or to Cheltenham on the same day for a race over two and half miles.

"He has got stronger since his last run and you would not believe that he only ran three weeks ago."

The Limpley Stoke handler also outlined plans for both Hennessy first-fence faller The Young Master and stablemate The Druids Nephew, who was forced to miss the race on account of the soft ground.

He said: "The ground was too soft for The Druids Nephew in the Hennessy and he will go to Cheltenham for a three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap on Friday.

"The Young Master didn't have a race in the Hennessy and the plan is to go back to Ascot on December 19 to try and win the Silver Cup he won last year. He was perfectly fine after his fall."