Former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Dunguib is among 16 entries for the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.
Trainer Philip Fenton is considering giving the Champion Hurdle hopeful his first run of the winter in the Grade Three contest over two miles and three furlongs.
Another classy entry is the 2007 Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity, which returned to winning ways at Cork last week. Others in the list include Noel Meade's pair of Aitmatov and Donnas Palm, Stonemaster and Vic Venturi from the Dessie Hughes stable and the Paul Nolan-trained Shinrock Paddy.
Tom Mullins intends to saddle Made In Taipan before putting him back over fences later in the campaign. The 10-year-old was sixth to Jumbo Rio over the smaller obstacles at Punchestown on his first start since falling in the Aintree Grand National.
"He came out of his last race very well," said Mullins. "We'd be hoping for a much better run on Saturday. It blew the cobwebs away and he's better going left-handed.
"He'll go back chasing and we're going to have a go at some three-mile contests to see if he gets the trip. We went at it last year in the Hennessy at Leopardstown, but they went no gallop and by the time the race had started, his chances had been wrecked."
Meanwhile, Bob Lingo is to represent the stable in the Woodlands Park Club Novice Chase at Naas on the same afternoon after being a late withdrawal from Leopardstown last Sunday.
Mullins' brother Willie is responsible for three of the 12 entries in C'Est Ca, Quadrillon and Quel Esprit, while Dessie Hughes has put in Western Charmer.
Noel Meade has two possibles in Cross Appeal and Gran Torino, while the dozen are completed by Quito De La Roque, Roi Du Mee, Royal De La Thinte, Slippers Percy and Tharawaat
Trainer Philip Fenton has said that Dunguib will most likely make his seasonal debut in next months Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park having been forced to miss this weekend’s Irish Champion Hurdle due to a unsatisfactory blood test.
The County Limerick trainer Fenton said:
“Dunguib looks great and is working well but the results from the blood tests we took this morning were not satisfactory and we have run out of time for the weekend. Hopefully after four or five days on antibiotics he will be fine again and the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park looks to be our only option before Cheltenham.”
Paddy Power have announced that they will refund all bets on Dunguib for Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle, where it now looks like Solwhit will again be Hurricane Fly’s biggest challenger. However, the latters trainer Charles Byrnes is dismissive of his chances:
“He has come out of the Paddy Power Festival Hurdle very well when the race turned into a sprint. He would have preferred more of a gallop although he would still not have beaten Hurricane Fly, but they would then probably have been a long way ahead of the third. The chances of beating Hurricane Fly on Sunday are very, very slim as Hurricane appears to be settling better in his races now and he is much better at the end of his races than he previously was. But there is good prize money — €22,000 for second place — but that won’t be easy as there are a few other good ones in it.”
Byrnes has the Aintree Hurdle rather than Cheltenham as a long-term target for Solwhit, although he did has given the horse an entry for the Festival in March:
“Later on I felt, to be fair to the horse, he was entitled to have an entry in the English Champion Hurdle but we would be looking more at Aintree. I have absolutely no regrets that he’s around at the same time as Hurricane Fly. He’s won six Grade Ones and we’re delighted to be there and if Hurricane wasn’t around, something else would be”.
Trainer Philip Fenton has said that Dunguib will most likely make his seasonal debut in next months Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park having been forced to miss this weekend’s Irish Champion Hurdle due to a unsatisfactory blood test.The County Limeric
Just watched the Supreme Novices on sporting life video form again, and the ride Dunguib was given was really really bad. I was thinking 20/1 was a big price compared to menorah, however menorah has no questions marks this season and has had a good prep.
Does anyone know jockey plans for Dunguib this season?
Just watched the Supreme Novices on sporting life video form again, and the ride Dunguib was given was really really bad. I was thinking 20/1 was a big price compared to menorah, however menorah has no questions marks this season and has had a good p
I am afraid Barry O'Connell will ride him again. Pity I had hoped one of the top jockeys would get the ride because of his inexperience in England but there you are.
Philip Fenton has only had 5 winners this season and the jockey has only ridden 6 this season.
I've gone in quite large at big prices and topped up regularly. I knew he wouldn't run until this time of year but it is getting a bit scary.
I am afraid Barry O'Connell will ride him again. Pity I had hoped one of the top jockeys would get the ride because of his inexperience in England but there you are. Philip Fenton has only had 5 winners this season and the jockey has only ridden 6 th
It looks a vintage year in champion this year. The winner must surely have had to have had a good prep, get there 100% on the day and have that bit of luck class and jockeyship.
Just cant see O'Connell pulling it off, especially after 'That' ride last year. You cant go 5 wide in CH and give horses like Binocular a few lengths adv. and expect to win.
Prob unlucky IR 3rd or 4th for Duinguib again this year
It looks a vintage year in champion this year. The winner must surely have had to have had a good prep, get there 100% on the day and have that bit of luck class and jockeyship.Just cant see O'Connell pulling it off, especially after 'That' ride last
The strength in depth makes you realise what a no brainer it is for Cue Card's connections to run him in the Supreme where he would have a favs chance rather than an 8th in the Champion.
The strength in depth makes you realise what a no brainer it is for Cue Card's connections to run him in the Supreme where he would have a favs chance rather than an 8th in the Champion.