Alainn on Alliance trail
Cailín Alainn is still on course for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival despite falling at the track on Saturday.
Trainer Charles Byrnes pitched his star novice against more established rivals in the Letheby And Christopher Chase and she still appeared to be going well when taking a fall at the third-last fence.
That tumble ended the eight-year-old’s six-race unbeaten stretch but the Festival remains very much the target for Byrnes’ dual Grade One winner.
“She’s not home yet but seemed OK after the fall yesterday,” said the Co Limerick handler.
“She was running well before the fall and she seemed to handle Cheltenham well. She’s going to go straight for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase now, all being well.”
Cailín Alainn is as short as 5-1 with Coral for the extended three-mile event on March 14.
