Griffin baffled by Lounaos flop

Lounaos is a major doubt for the Cheltenham Festival after disappointing connections at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Eoin Griffin’s mare was sent off at 11-2 for the Red Mills Centenary Trial Hurdle but finished a well-beaten sixth behind Catch Me.

Griffin had been considering a crack at the inaugural David Nicholson Mares’ Only Hurdle at Prestbury Park but admits plans are now up in the air.

“It was very competitive but we were very disappointed, though she was fine afterwards,” said Griffin.

“I thought the ground was horrible there, it was very tacky, but Barry (Geraghty) didn’t seem to think the ground was the issue with her.

“We’ll just have to see what comes out of it over the next few days. It’s a bit of a puzzler and we’re scratching our heads a little bit,” he told At The Races.

“We had the mares’ race at Cheltenham on the Friday as a target for her, but it’s hard to see her going there now on the back of that run.”

Prior to Saturday’s no-show, Lounaos finished fourth behind Sizing Europe in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.