Hughes maps out Magnanimity plan
The eight-year-old last graced the winner’s enclosure in January 2011 but has put in several decent efforts in top company.
He has finished second twice this term, the latest behind Sizing Europe in the Clonmel Oil Chase, and Hughes feels it is time the Gigginstown Stud-owned gelding gets his head in front again.
He has found a three-mile chase at Thurles restricted to horses that have not won more than two races over fences.
“There’s a conditions race in Thurles on Thursday week. Hopefully he’ll go for that and win it,” said the Curragh handler.
“It’s a race for horses that have not won more than two chases. Then we’ll have a look at a decent handicap over at least three miles.
“I’d like him to win one and hopefully the race at Thurles will not be too difficult for him to get his head in front and then we can go from there.”
Hughes has no firm plans for Lyreen Legend, who put a decent effort in running Back To Focus to four lengths in the Grade Two Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.
“He’s fine, but he was up against a very good horse (Back In Focus). I thought we might have beaten him turning in but he ground it out. He’s such a stayer,” said the trainer.
“We’ll try to avoid Back In Focus and see where we go from there. We might take him on again in the spring, but we’ll leave him to it for the moment.”
Hughes may wait until Christmas to give Minsk his second run of the campaign after the four-year-old opened his account over hurdles at Punchestown on Saturday.
Minsk, a smart performer on the Flat for John Oxx, was just having his second start over jumps after finishing runner-up on his hurdling bow at Fairyhouse in February.
The Barry Connell-owned gelding holds an entry in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 2, but Hughes feels that race might come too soon.
“It was nice. It’s always a worry the first day especially going further, two and a half miles,” said the Curragh trainer.
“He did it well, stayed well and jumped well. He couldn’t have done much more.
“The second, the mare (Glens Melody) of Willie’s (Mullins) is decent enough. She was unbeaten, so you’d have to say it was good.
“We were pleased with him and I don’t honestly know if we should run him in the Royal Bond or wait until Christmas.
“The Royal Bond might come up too quick – it’s only in two weeks.
“I think two miles will be fine for him, a good pace on soft ground, but if we have to go two and a half then we will.”
