Lounaos ready for return

Johnny Murtagh has been putting Lounaos through her paces before her likely seasonal reappearance on December 26.

While the top Flat jockey rode over hurdles a couple of years ago, he has not done so recently but still likes to help out trainer Eoin Griffin, for whom he is a regular in races on the level.

And Lounaos is on something of a recovery mission, having finished only 10th when sent off favourite for the Triumph Hurdle as well as being subsequently beaten at Fairyhouse.

“I’d say she was most likely to run at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day (Tom Hogan Lexus Hurdle),” said Griffin.

“She’s just had an extended break over the summer. She had her last piece of work on the Curragh on Wednesday.

“Johnny said she acquitted herself very well.”