Options open for Field

New Field, 7-1 favourite with Cashmans for the Coral Cup, could instead run in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle if the ground is soft at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tom Mullins’ charge finished a close third behind Spring The Que in the ultra-competitive Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown before running a respectable seventh in the Totesport Trophy at Newbury.

Both those races were over two miles but Mullins hopes the ground dries sufficiently to enable him to take his chance in the longer race over two miles and five furlongs.

And Mullins also hopes the JP McManus-owned gelding will have the assistance of Tony McCoy at the Festival.

“We’ll have a look at the weights and see what Frank Berry (racing manager) and JP want to do with regards to whether it is the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle.

“Whether Tony McCoy will be available and which race Tony thinks might suit best will also be taken in to consideration as well as the ground.

“If the ground was very testing we would maybe go for the County but if it was going to be good he would go for the Coral.

“All those things have to be taken in to account but he is in tremendous form. He seems to be in better form now than he was for the Pierse Hurdle or the Totesport Trophy, but we’ll see. He’s a hard horse to get fit.

“He’s also got a sneaky entry in the Grand Annual as he won a couple of races over fences last season. We’ll have to weigh everything up and see what happens.”