Fenton pleased with Dunguib progress

DUNGUIB is reported to be progressing steadily on the road to returning to action next season.

The 2009 Cheltenham Festival champion bumper winner and 2010 Deloitte Novice Hurdle victor has been sidelined with heat in a tendon since finishing eighth to Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

However, Dunguib has been on the horse walker every day for some time, and trainer Philip Fenton has pencilled in July 1 as potentially the date the horse goes back into training.

“He’s coming along slowly and you won’t see him until next season,” said Fenton.

“He’s on the walker every day and doing a lot of work.

“He’ll be coming back into training maybe the first of July.

“He’ll jump fences, that’s the plan.”

Meanwhile Margaret Mullins will leave it up to Mumbo Jumbo’s owner to decide whether the talented gelding will compete at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The five-year-old was an impressive winner on his bumper debut at Gowran Park in September, before finishing an unlucky sixth in a Listed event at Cheltenham having been hampered running down the hill.

He bounced back to winning form with a most taking performance at Leopardstown over Christmas and he could now be in line for the Champion Bumper.

“He’s come out of Leopardstown good and he’s on a bit of a break now,” said Mullins.

“He’s out in the paddock at the moment kicking and bucking, he’s full of himself.

“It was a good performance at Leopardstown. The time before at Cheltenham he ran very green, but I’d say going over there made a man of him.

“He’s a lot more settled now and he could go back to Cheltenham for the Champion Bumper, although that would be up to Barry (Connell, owner). If he was to go to Cheltenham, he’d go straight there now. He wouldn’t have another run beforehand.”