Travino set for December return

Mags Mullins hopes the ground is soft in early December to allow Travino to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance.

The Goresbridge-based handler reports the eight-year-old to be on course to return to the track after being sidelined for 18 months with a tendon problem.

She has pencilled in a chase at Clonmel on December 6 for Travino to make his debut over fences.

“He’s going well so hopefully when the ground comes soft he’ll run, maybe in the first week in December,” said Mullins.

“He’s been going through his work well. It’s always a worry every day you go out to see him, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. His tendons seems very good at the moment.

“We’re going to go straight chasing. There are a couple of races at the end of November but it will probably be into December I would say before I run him.

“Two and a half miles is his best trip and the race at Clonmel might be the one.

“If we can keep him right he could be a smashing horse over fences.”

Travino was among the top rank as a novice hurdler in the 2005-6 campaign, winning a Grade One event before finishing third to Black Jack Ketchum at the Cheltenham Festival.