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Dunguib Given Rabobank Champion Hurdle Option at Punchestown
24/03/10
After finishing only third when sent off a red-hot 4/5 favourite in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last week, Dunguib is set to try and restore his reputation as one of the most exciting novice hurdlers of recent times at this year’s Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown.
The seven-year-old’s trainer Philip Fenton revealed today that he is considering taking on more seasoned hurdlers in the Grade One Rabobank Champion Hurdle, highlight of the fourth day of the National Hunt Festival on Friday, April 23, rather than sticking to novice company in the Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday, April 20.
Fenton said: “Dunguib took his race at Cheltenham extremely well and the idea now is to head to Punchestown, where he will be given an entry in both the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle and the Rabobank Champion Hurdle.
“At the moment there is every chance that he will stay in novice company but we will keep our cards close to our chest and take a close look at both races nearer the time before making any final decision.
“We just didn’t have the luck on the day at Cheltenham but we have to put up with it. Fair dues to the winner, who did it well, but we have to look forward to getting Dunguib back on track at Punchestown. Brian (O’Connell) will be back on the horse and he will make amends for what happened at Cheltenham.”
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While Dunguib failed to feature among the seven Irish-trained winners at Cheltenham last week, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe recorded a stunning victory over Somersby in the Grade One Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
The eight-year-old is on course to bid for a fourth chase victory at Punchestown this season in the Ryanair Novice Chase on Thursday, April 22, having followed up a debut success over fences with victories in the Grade Three Buck House Novice Chase in October and in the Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase the following month.
De Bromhead reported: “Sizing Europe is in good form - he travelled home well and we are very happy with him. I am absolutely over the moon with his run at Cheltenham and it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I was especially delighted for the horse because he finally showed what he can do at Cheltenham.
“Everything seems to have fallen into place with him this season and a lot of hard work has gone into him. We are just getting him over last week but we are certainly aiming him towards the Ryanair Novice Chase.
“He certainly likes Punchestown - he has won there four times, including when beating Big Zeb in a winners of one hurdle at the 2007 Festival, which looks like quite a good bit of form now!”
A large team from de Bromhead’s Co Waterford stable may also include fellow Ryanair Novice Chase hopeful An Cathaoir Mor, winner of the Grade One Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown in January and Cheltenham Grade Two scorer Loosen My Load.
De Bromhead added: “An Cathaoir Mor will also be given an entry at Punchestown, but it is obviously very ground dependent whether he runs or not - soft ground is the key to him.
“Loosen My Load had been on the go since last summer so we decided to give him a little break after he won at Cheltenham in November. He didn’t come back well enough to return for the Festival there and run in such competitive Grade One races.
“He looks great now and he will hopefully head to Fairyhouse over Easter and then on to Punchestown. We will decide after his next run whether to keep him over two miles for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle or step him up in distance for the Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle over half a mile further.
“He has won a Grade Two hurdle around Cheltenham and I am not sure that he needs to step up in distance at this stage of his career.
“I hope to have quite a few other runners - Fort George, Sizing Australia, Sizing America, Sizing Mexico, The Spoonplayer - and we will hopefully have some nice horses going to Punchestown this year.”
The Irish National Hunt Festival runs at Punchestown from Tuesday, April 20, to Saturday, April 24. Please visit www.punchestown.com for information on tickets, race times, accommodation and hospitality packages.
