Dunguib leads Limestone contenders
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, who 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 New Year’s Eve on his first start since falling in the John Smith’s Grand National.
“He’ll definitely go there. He came out of his last race very well. He just got away on Barry Geraghty with half a mile to go and just blew himself up very quick,” said the Co Kilkenny trainer.
“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 in Leopardstown, but they went no gallop and by the time the race had started his chances had been wrecked.
“We probably should have popped him out and gone our own gallop. It was his first time against the big horses so we didn’t want to do it. It was just the way things transpired. Next time we’ll probably pop away with him and not hold him up.
“He might go for the Hennessy again. A lot depends on what he does on Saturday. I’m hoping for a better run.”
Meanwhile, Bob Lingo is set to go for the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas on Saturday after being a late withdrawal from Leopardstown on Sunday due to the testing conditions.
Trainer Tom Mullins took the nine-year-old out of the Tote Pick Six Killiney Novice Chase and hopes JP McManus’s charge can follow up his success at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.
“He’ll run at Naas. They had a lot of rain at Leopardstown and it turned the ground to heavy,” said Mullins.
“He won very well the last day. They gave him a bit of a start but he won so well afterwards that you’d have to respect the performance.”
Mullins’ brother Willie is responsible for three of the 12 preliminary entries in C’Est Ca, Quadrillon and Quel Esprit while Dessie Hughes has put in Western Charmer, who missed Sunday’s Leopardstown heat due to lameness.
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.
Roi Du Mee and Tharawaat are both owned by Gigginstown House Stud and trained by Gordon Elliott.
The Co Meath handler will wait before finalising his plans for the pair who got off the mark over fences last month
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll see how they get on. They are both in good form so we’ll see what happens,” said Elliott.
