Tough Leopardstown test for Cowboy
Smurfit Champion Hurdle favourite Rhinestone Cowboy faces a stiff test when he lines up against the likes of Solerina and Back In Front at Leopardstown tomorrow.
The trio have been declared to run in the Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle.
However, the Grade One contest is by no means a three-cornered fight with the likes of Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace and Jessica Harrington’s smart performer Spirit Leader also in the line up.
Assessing Rhinestone Cowboy’s chances his trainer Jonjo O’Neill told attheraces: “Everything is going according to plan. He’s in good form and hopefully he’s in as good form when he gets there.
“It’s a great race. She (Solerina) is a great little filly but he’ll take all the beating. He’s in great form and I’ve no excuse for him.”
Following the retirement of regular partner Norman Williamson earlier this season, Rhinestone Cowboy will again be ridden by owner John Magnier’s son, the amateur JP.
Magnier junior has won twice on the horse including last time when he comfortably landed a handicap hurdle at Haydock Park on his reappearance.
O’Neill has every confidence in the relatively inexperienced young rider.
He said: “I don’t think I’ll have to tell him much. He rides him well enough.
“He does nothing wrong but one day he’s going to get beaten on him and the whole world will be down on top of him. But that’s racing, that’s life.
“He does a grand job with him. The horse is a lovely ride and he gives him a lovely ride.”
Back In Front returned to winning form with a length and a half call over Sacundai at Punchestown last month while the game front-runner Solerina has been successful in nine of her 11 starts over hurdles.
The Noel Chance-trained Flame Creek, another British challenger who was fourth to Rigmarole in a slowly-run event at Cheltenham last time on his first outing back over hurdles following a successful spell over fences.
Michael Halford’s JCB Triumph Hurdle third Golden Cross completes the field.
