Christmas choice to be made for Sonic Pioneer

Sonic Pioneer could return to scene of his ultra-impressive hurdling bow, as Martin Keighley eyes an outing over the Christmas with Harry Redknapp’s exciting juvenile.

A dual winner on the Flat with Jack Morland, the talented prospect dazzled with a 14-length Kempton romp last month and could now reappear at the Sunbury venue on December 27 or head to Newbury two days later having come out of his first jumping assignment in rude health.

Keighley said: “There’s an introductory juvenile hurdle race at Kempton on December 27 where you can only have run in one hurdle race which looks ideal.

“Then at Newbury on December 29 there is an introductory hurdle which is open to older horses, but again you can only have run in one hurdle race and he’ll get a 15lb allowance in that with being a three-year-old.

“I’ll stick him in at Kempton and Newbury, see which one looks best and he’s definitely set to run over Christmas.

“He’s come out of his debut fresh and well, the juvenile race at Cheltenham on Saturday we felt comes just that little bit too soon, but those options over Christmas look ideal.”

Sonic Pioneer’s presence at Kempton would make it a huge two days at the London venue for owner Redknapp, with the former West Ham and Tottenham boss having King George VI Chase ambitions with his star performer, Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man.

Keighley added: “It’ll give him a bit more experience and if he was to go and win I probably wouldn’t run him again until the Triumph Hurdle.

“It’s great to have such a lovely horse and we’re looking forward to him.”

Sonic Pioneer is a 25-1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle with Paddy Power, a market which is headed by Nicky Henderson’s yet to be seen Manlaga and Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout.