Travino set for Cygnet test

Travino, a leading contender for the Cheltenham Festival, looks set to take his chance in the P.J Walls Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The Grade One winner also has the option of the Lily O’Briens Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday but trainer Mags Mullins believes the ground could turn against her stable star.

“It’s not looking good at Cheltenham,” said Mullins. “The forecast is for pretty dry weather for the rest of the week so I’m leaning towards Leopardstown at the minute.

“It’s not 100% yet and he isn’t scheduled to leave until tomorrow afternoon but it looks like he’ll be staying over here.

“I’ve spoken to the clerk of the course (Simon Claisse) today and he says it’s drying out all the time and he would describe it as fast today.

“I’m not quite sure yet but it’s starting to look like Leopardstown.”

Despite Mullins having reservations, she still has not totally ruled out bringing the seven-year-old over to England ahead of a possible crack at the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle in March.

“I would love to send him over to Cheltenham. It would be a great test for him travelling over and he would gain course experience for March,” she added.

“I don’t want to run him on firm ground though. I haven’t made a positive decision yet so we’ll see.

“He’s going to be a grand chaser in the long term and we always said that whatever he did this year would be a bonus.”