Sheehy's English plan

Eamonn Sheehy is looking for a suitable novice chase in England for Justified following the horse’s early departure at Leopardstown.

The six-year-old lost his unbeaten record over fences when unseating Shay Barry at the first in the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase on Monday.

Sheehy is desperate to get a run into Justified before his next main target, the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase back at Leopardstown on January 29, but there is no suitable contest in Ireland before then.

“He’s 100 per cent and it was just one of those things. We’ll probably take him over to England shortly because there’s nothing over here and I need to get a run into him because he’s a horse that needs a run,” said the County Kilkenny trainer.

“It doesn’t have to be a big race but just one to get a run into him.

“We are contacting people in England we are friendly with to go through the programme book to find a race.

“There’s nothing for him over here until the 29th of January. I want to get a run into him before then.

“His last real race was five weeks ago and the Arkle at Leopardstown is over four weeks away. That’s too much of a gap for a horse like him because of his mind. He needs to be kept going.

“That was probably what was wrong yesterday. He was too fresh in himself.

“Basically we’ll get him to England for the first suitable race – anything between two miles and two and a half will be no bother.

“He’s out in a field bucking and screaming.”

Justified has created a big impression by making all the running to win both his starts over fences so far, both at Punchestown, and was sent off the 5-4 favourite to continue the sequence.