Europe and Rubi in frame for Gowran
Last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Sizing Europe could step back up in distance to two and a half miles for his seasonal reappearance.
The six-year-old Rubi Light was a fantastic third in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and his trainer Robbie Hennessy is keen for him to return this weekend, but only if conditions are in his favour.
“He’s in good form but I’d like to see some rain for him. It all depends on the ground,” said Hennessy.
“We’ll probably leave it until the last minute, but I would like him to go to Gowran as he’s a course and distance winner.
“If we’re not happy with the ground we’ll wait and he could go to Punchestown 10 days later instead, so we’ll see.
“He had a good four-month break after Cheltenham and looks to have done well.
“He’s had a run in a couple of schooling races and Andrew Lynch thinks he’s improved. If he has, we should have a bit of fun with him.”
Lynch has ridden Rubi Light on his last three starts but Hennessy could be on the lookout for a different jockey this weekend, with Lynch likely to maintain his fruitful partnership with Sizing Europe.
“Andrew is almost certain Sizing Europe runs, so if that’s the case we’ll probably have Davy Russell or Barry Geraghty,” Hennessy added.
“I see Forpadydeplasterer is in there, so Barry might ride him and we’d have Davy, who has won on Rubi Light before.
“We’ll just have to see how it all pans out.”
Forpadydeplasterer would be making his first start since January if he lines up, having fallen ill earlier in the year.
A nine-runner field also includes Finger Onthe Pulse, Lenabane and Scotsirish at this stage.
