Lingo decision left late

Connections of Lingo have yet to decide whether he will make his eagerly-awaited comeback at Cheltenham on Sunday.

The six-year-old, who has not raced since winning the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January 2004 on only his third start over jumps, has been entered in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle by trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

“I don’t know if he’s running yet. He’s entered on Sunday but there are also other races coming up. We’ll decide nearer the time. Obviously he’s not raced for a long while,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“He’ll be doing a bit of work tomorrow so Jonjo will see how he comes through that.

“It might depend on the going as he wants nice ground. He’s fine and in good form.”

Lingo was ruled out of the 2004 Cheltenham Festival due to a setback and missed all of last season's jumps campaign, picking up a bug which plagued the O’Neill team.

Formerly a smart handicapper for Lynda Ramsden, Lingo is 40-1 with Ladbrokes for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.