Cowboy nearer to comeback run

Jonjo O’Neill issued an upbeat bulletin on Rhinestone Cowboy as the high-profile staying hurdler edges closer to a return to racecourse action.

The Grade One-winning nine-year-old has been off since beating stablemate Iris’s Gift at Punchestown in April 2004 but could run before Christmas.

“He’s done a couple of bits of work and he’s doing grand,” O’Neill told Racing UK. “We’re very pleased with him and hopefully he will run this side of Christmas but I don’t know to be honest.

“He’s in great form and it’s so far, so good.

“He’ll definitely be staying over hurdles.”

The in-form Jackdaws Castle handler also indicated Iris’s Gift would be sticking to novice company at the Hennessy meeting at Newbury rather than taking up his engagement in the big race itself.