All choices stay open for French Ship following his simple victory at Newbury on Saturday.

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's skilled five-year-old had been raised 8lb for a win at Cheltenham in November, but he still looked ahead of the handicapper.

He has actually been hit with another 10lb rise as an outcome and connections now need to choose whether to till on with big weights in handicaps or take the plunge into graded company.

"He's been installed 10lb, which is rather a hike, but similarly it was an extremely strong efficiency," said White.

"We could not have been better with the run and likewise how he's come out of the race, which is the most crucial thing.

"We've no specific plans at the minute, we wish to simply see how he is and after that we'll go from there.

French Ship has actually been excellent so far this season (Steven Paston/PA)

"A mark of 146 means we're either towards the head of the weights in excellent handicaps or he makes the leap into graded company, he remains in that area now.

"He keeps appearing to enhance, ideally he'll enhance enough to swelling round off 146. Harry (Cobden) was extremely complimentary, naturally. He states he's got the equipments to travel over shorter, but he also said he 'd remain even more.

"He's a beautiful horse, who we are really thrilled by."

It could be a huge weekend for the Minehead yard, with 2 of their exciting children due to be in action at various ends of the nation.

Sober Glory, a 12-length winner on hurdling launching, is reserved in for the Listed Betfair Exchange Claremont Novices' Hurdle at Sandown, while Captain Hugo beat 2 smart key ins Sinnatra and Storming George when he last ran and goes north to Aintree.

White said: "Sober Glory goes to Sandown on Saturday. I thought they 'd have a bit more rain yesterday, really, however he'll go there. Captain Hugo will go to Aintree on Saturday as well, so we've lots to look forwards to."