Lexus on the agenda for Attrition

War Of Attrition has been given a clean bill of health after finishing second to In Compliance at Punchestown on Sunday.

Last season’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was sent off the 2-1 favourite in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase, in which he was unable to overhaul the Michael O’Brien-trained winner, despite battling gamely.

Handler Mouse Morris was very pleased with the effort despite his charge’s eclipse as underfoot conditions were riding unsuitably heavy.

“He’s fine after Sunday – not a bother,” said the trainer.

“Obviously we would have liked to win but we didn’t want to have him completely bottomed out, which he wasn’t.

“Conor (O’Dwyer) was very happy and I was very happy too, but he just doesn’t jump as well out of that sort of ground.”

While Morris was delighted with his stable star, he admits to being impressed with In Compliance.

“The winner looked good and I’m sure he’s going to be a fine horse now,” Morris added.

The pair could again lock horns in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, after Morris confirmed that contest as War Of Attrition’s probable next port of call.

“We’ll look at the Lexus for him now if he’s OK. He has two weeks to recover before that and should be OK,” he said.