Rock set for Sunday spin

Perce Rock, runner-up to Silverburn in the Tolworth Hurdle, is set to tackle Sunday’s Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Tommy Stack’s lightly-raced five-year-old was having only his second start over timber at Sandown and he has delighted connections following the race.

He could meet Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ante-post favourite De Valira in the Grade Two contest over two miles and two furlongs but connections say they will have more of an idea of his Festival target following the race.

“The plan is to run Perce Rock at the weekend. He is in good form and came out of the Sandown race in great nick,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“We are very happy with him and the plan is to run on Sunday.

“It will be nice to get another run into him before Cheltenham as he will benefit from it greatly.

“He ran a cracker a Sandown and for one with so little experience beforehand, we were thrilled with him.

“He has entries in the Supreme and the Ballymore Properties but we will get Sunday out of the way before we decide what race he will run in in March.”