Siege Of Ennis to race at Naas

Siege Of Ennis is likely to run at Naas on Sunday in order to extend his options at the Cheltenham Festival.

Eddie Harty’s progressive sort has only had two starts over hurdles to date, winning at Leopardstown most recently.

As a four-year-old, he could run in the Triumph Hurdle or the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Festival, with a handicap mark required for the latter.

“The reason he’s going to run is to get a handicap mark,” said Harty.

“I haven’t made my mind up which race at Naas he will run in, we’ll make our minds up nearer the time and we’ll keep our options open.

“He likes to get his toe in, he’s not a horse that needs good ground. He’s a tough horse and it will give us a nice little break to ease of and freshen him up for Cheltenham – whichever race we go for.

“His form is working out well so we’ll have a sit down when the weights come out to decide which race to go for (Triumph or Fred Winter).

“It won’t matter taking on the older horses this weekend, it’s just the way it has worked out and he has to have a run if we are going to go for the handicap.”