Silver to stay in Emerald isle

Tom Hogan is likely to keep campaigning Silver Jaro in Ireland following his fine effort in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The five-year-old is now on a mark of 120 from 116 in his native country after he finished third to Barker, but is rated significantly higher in England.

That seems certain to rule him out of the totesport Trophy at Newbury next month, with Hogan instead eyeing the Menolly Homes Hurdle at Fairyhouse on March 25 as a major objective.

“He’s come out of the Pierse well, but he’s going to have to stay in Ireland,” said the County Tipperary-based handler.

“After the Pierse he went up to 120 in Ireland, but he’s now on 132 in England, so I think I’d better stay over here with him.

“It would be suicide on my part to run him in the totesport Trophy. He’s gone up without winning a race and we have to try to win something with him first.

“I’m delighted with the horse. He’s only young, he’s coming on well and there’s still improvement in him.

“Hopefully we can find a nice race for him somewhere. There’s a few conditions races in Ireland coming up, we might get a run into him and some handicaps later on in the year.

“There’s the Menolly Homes at Fairyhouse and it’s the same value as the Pierse.”

Hogan also has Kalderon in the totesport Trophy on February 9 and a decision on the participation of the eight-year-old, who has not raced since chasing home Glencove Marina last April, could be made next week.

“He had a problem with his blood all last year, which we couldn’t figure out,” said Hogan.

“We eventually found he had an infection and have got that rectified now.

“We’ll just try him back over two miles and possibly run at Down Royal next month.

“He has an entry in the totesport Trophy but at the moment I don’t know. I’ll work him early next week and maybe make a decision.

“We hope he’s back to his best and we’re hopeful that we’ll get him back to winning ways again.”