Chasing career considered for Etoile

Accordion Etoile, who finished fourth in last season’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, is poised to begin a new career over the fences.

The Paul Nolan-trained gelding shouldered top weight to land sixth place in the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday, but connections are now considering sending the six-year-old chasing.

“Accordion Etoile got hampered a couple of times in the Galway Hurdle,” Nolan told the Racing Post. “That’s a risk you take when a horse has to be ridden from behind in a big field.

“He seems none the worse and, although a final decision hasn’t been made yet, it is most likely that we will switch him to fences. As he needs quick ground, we’ll be looking at an autumn and spring novice chase campaign for him if we make up our minds to go that route.”