Lieutenant fine after Drinmore blunder

MOUSE MORRIS is pleased there is no lasting damage to his Cheltenham Festival winner First Lieutenant after his bad mistake in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Davy Russell performed miracles to stay in the saddle after his blunder at the eighth fence but after briefly getting back into contention, he was forced to pull his mount up.

It was initially reported after the race that he had burst a blood vessel, but Morris is keen to stress the blood was caused by the impact of hitting the fence.

“He’s grand, I think it was more the bang on the head,” said Morris.

“He bled from his nose. There was so much I think he would have been dead if it came up from his lungs.

“It was just one of those things. I don’t know why he made a mistake as he was jumping grand up until then.

“Maybe it was the ground, he doesn’t jump as well out of soft, we know he’s not at his best on it.

“Because he hasn’t really burst – it was from a bang – I wouldn’t be saying he was a bleeder so I wouldn’t be too worried.

“We’ll just have to see if he runs at Christmas. I’d be loath to run him on heavy ground again.

“His class nearly got him back in the race. It was some recovery from Davy, I’d put my glasses down and it wasn’t until I heard the commentator say his name again that I knew he was still going.”

Morris had better news of China Rock, who is due to return to action at Christmas after picking up an injury when in the process of running a big race in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

“China Rock will hopefully come back in the Lexus, although I wouldn’t want to run him on heavy ground first time back,” added Morris.