Cheltenham still target for Hasanpour

Hasanpour could still run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham despite being laid low with an infection.

The Irish-trained four-year-old had been prominent in the betting for the juvenile championship at around 14-1 after making a winning debut over hurdles before running disappointingly behind Power Elite at Leopardstown yesterday.

After the race he was found to be suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, but trainer Charlie Swan is hopeful of getting the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old to Cheltenham.

“He scoped wrong after the race, but he’d scoped fine the day before,” said Swan today.

“Hopefully he could still run in the Triumph. We’ll see how he is in the next couple of weeks. Obviously he’d have to go there without another run.

“He jumped very well yesterday except for being untidy at the last two hurdles, when he was probably affected by the infection.

“We still think he’s a decent horse.”