TOM Gretton says exciting novice chaser Kauto Riko could head to some of jump racing's bigger meetings after his impressive success at Taunton.

The Inkberrow-based trainer hopes to run the seven-year-old bay within the next month before potential eye-catching assignments in the spring should he continue his upward trajectory.

Kauto Riko, a relation to the great Kauto Star, secured back-to-back chase wins last Saturday while also handing jockey Brian Hughes his first success at Taunton.

The progressive chaser and 7/4 favourite travelled strongly, led three out and was pushed clear to beat second-place Space Oddity by nearly four lengths in the Bathwick Tyres Bridgewater Handicap Chase over two miles.

The victory followed Kauto Riko's chase debut win at Newcastle last month and saw him add more than £9,000 in prize money for owners Mr and Mrs J Dale and Partners.

Gretton said: "He's come out of the race perfectly fine and we'll hopefully look to run him again in the next month.

"We'll see what the handicapper does first but hopefully we could be looking at the bigger meetings in April and May.

"He'll get an entry for the Festival but that may come a little too soon.

"He's an exciting horse and hopefully he's improving all the time. He'll also handle better ground and could even step up to two-and-a-half miles as well, so we have plenty of options."