Triumph favourite Lounaos likely to head to Cheltenham without another run
Eoin Griffin’s four-year-old filly finished fourth in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle last weekend on what was only her third run over timber.
She chased home the cream of the two-mile hurdling division, finishing behind Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca and Macs Joy – the first three home in the Champion Hurdle last year – and Griffin believes she ran up to his expectations.
“It was a brilliant run from her. Realistically, we always knew it was going to be very difficult to beat those two (Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca) and Macs Joy,” said Griffin.
“Going into the race, the best I was hoping for was third place unless something untoward happened. We thought Macs Joy might not be as sharp as he actually was so fourth place was the best we could do, we were delighted with that.
“Throughout the race you wouldn’t have picked her out as the juvenile among them as she looked completely at ease. She jumped and travelled very well but just got tired.
“I know she had a big weight advantage (19lb) but her experience compared to them didn’t come close.
“She will go straight to Cheltenham now and Barry Geraghty will be back on board in the Triumph Hurdle,” he told At The Races.
Meanwhile, Signatory, sent off favourite for the totesport Ebor when in the care of John Gosden on the level, could have his first start for his new connections at Punchestown on Sunday.
The former Sheikh Mohammed-owned five-year-old was purchased on behalf of leading owner JP McManus at the Newmarket Sales in October and is now in the care of champion Irish jumps trainer Noel Meade.
He holds an entry in the Eadestown G.A.A. Club Maiden Hurdle but Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, is still unsure whether he will take his chance.
“He’s getting on fine but I’m not sure if he will run on Sunday though,” he said.
“Time is getting on with him now so he will have to be out soon. Noel is very happy with the way he is jumping though.
“We got him out of the Newmarket Sales in October and I think he had a month or two off following that.
“Noel is happy with the way he is going but because time is getting on, he may run if Noel is happy enough with him.
“He holds an entry in all three novice hurdles at Cheltenham and we will know a lot more once he has had a run.”
Perce Rock, runner-up to Silverburn in the Tolworth Hurdle, is set to tackle Sunday’s Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Tommy Stack’s lightly-raced five-year-old was having only his second start over timber at Sandown and he has delighted connections following the race.
He could meet Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ante-post favourite De Valira in the Grade Two contest over two miles and two furlongs but connections say they will have more of an idea of his Festival target following the race.
“The plan is to run Perce Rock at the weekend. He is in good form and came out of the Sandown race in great nick,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
“We are very happy with him and the plan is to run on Sunday.
“It will be nice to get another run into him before Cheltenham as he will benefit from it greatly.
“He ran a cracker a Sandown and for one with so little experience beforehand, we were thrilled with him.”
