ALAN King's Raya Star will head back to Ascot for the Coral Hurdle after his fine weight-carrying performance in Berkshire last weekend.

The Barbury Castle trainer's six-year-old also won the Ladbroke at Ascot last season, as well as the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

The Barbury Castle handler had been giving serious consideration to running in the Racing Post Hurdle, better known as the Greatwood, at Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting, but the prospect of top-weight has turned him off the idea.

"Raya Star is now on a mark of 155, so he would have to shoulder top-weight of 11st 12lb at Cheltenham which would be a huge ask," King told his website, www.alankingracing.co.uk.

"It is more likely he will return to his favourite course on November 24 for the two-and-a half-miler, where he would be on level terms with the opposition, albeit which might well include Oscar Whisky."

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