Lounaos flop a mystery
Lounaos returned home from Cheltenham in good shape, leaving handler Eoin Griffin unable to account for her disappointing show in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The filly was sent off the well-supported 7-2 favourite for the Grade One championship event, having previously finished fourth behind her elders in the AIG Champion Hurdle.
However, Lounaos was beaten some way from home and trailed in a well-beaten 10th behind Alan King’s impressive winner Katchit.
Griffin said: “She’s fine after the race and there was nothing wrong with her but to be honest we were disappointed.
“There’s no obvious reason to explain why she ran below par, but that’s racing for you – she just didn't act on the day. Nothing has come to light and her shoe was slightly twisted but I wouldn’t be pulling that out as an excuse.
“I think even if she had run to her best it would have been very difficult to see her beating the winner as he was very impressive,” Griffin added. “I think the best we could have hoped for would have been second.”
Lounaos had previously encountered ground no faster than soft over timber but her County Kilkenny-based trainer is not using underfoot conditions as an excuse for the relative no-show.
When asked if the going had played a part, he said: “I don’t really think so and Barry (Geraghty) didn't think so either.
“Maybe she just didn’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of the race but we’re not sure where we go with her from here.
“Whether she’s finished for the season or if we go again I’m not sure but we’ll probably make our minds up in the next week to 10 days.”
Lounaos won the November Handicap at Leopardstown in November last year before embarking on her National Hunt career.
And while Griffin has not ruled out running his filly on the Flat again, he says it is unlikely she would be seen in that sphere in the summer.
“I think it would probably be the autumn before you see her back on the Flat, but if she does run again this season there is a mares race here at Fairyhouse,” he explained.
“Even though that’s over two and a half miles it’s probably the only possibility left for her.”
