Bedrock will have the choice of Grade One races at Kempton and Leopardstown over the festive period as trainer Iain Jardine looks to get his classy hurdler back in racecourse action.

The Unibet Christmas Hurdle at the Sunbury venue on December 26 and the Ryanair Hurdle in Ireland three days later are the races Jardine is looking at for the five-year-old, who lowered the colours of Samcro at Down Royal last month.

Bedrock was to have renewed rivalry with Samcro and took on reigning Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but suffered a setback on the eve of that race.

“He might run over the Christmas period at Kempton or he’s in at Leopardstown as well. We’ll see how we go,” Jardine told At The Races.

“Entries aren’t out for Kempton yet. It’s an option. I’m not saying he’ll definitely go there. He might go to Leopardstown. We’ll see.

“He gave himself a knock the day before the Fighting Fifth and he had a bit of inflammation, so we decided not to go. In hindsight, we saw the ground and maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

“He’s a very good horse and has improved each run for us.

“He’s jumping out of his skin at the moment. It’s just selecting the right race. He’s ground dependent and he likes a right-handed track.

2I wouldn’t mind staying clear of Buveur D’Air, to be honest.”