West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon believes the best is yet to come from his Cheltenham Festival contender Sgt Reckless.

Having lowered the colours of the well-regarded West Wizard at Kempton in November, he was only third behind Amore Alato back at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day.

Channon has been keen to avoid heavy ground with his charge and ran him in a ‘jumpers’ bumper’ last week, with the seven-year-old emer-ging a length-and-a-half victor over Ranjaan.

The Sky Bet Supreme Nov-ices’ Hurdle is his target at the Festival, and Channon said: “We think he’s a lot better horse than what we’ve seen.

“He ran very well round Kempton on Boxing Day when the ground was very soft, but I promise you now, he’s one of the nicest horses I’ve ever had. He has a great turn of foot.

“He works like a very good horse.

“I would love to see him on some decent ground and then we’ll see how good he is.”