Trainer: Sublimity in top shape

Former champion hurdler Sublimity pleased connections in a workout at Fairyhouse over the weekend.

The eight-year-old lost his crown to Katchit at Cheltenham, fading up the hill to finish fourth having looked the likely winner at one stage.

Now the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on Friday week has been earmarked by trainer John Carr as the race to restore his stable star’s reputation.

“He worked grand, he went with a few stable companions over a mile and six furlongs and he sprinted away from them in the final 200 yards,” said Carr.

“The ground was very testing but they went very slowly early on and we are happy enough, we’re just hoping the ground comes right for him at Punchestown.

“It’s drying up at the minute, but there is a lot of rain forecast on Thursday.

“It shouldn’t be as soft as it was at Cheltenham, at least I hope it won’t be.

“Nicky’s (Henderson) horse Punjabi finished in front of us at Cheltenham but he was ridden for a place I think. If we had ridden our horse for a place I think we would have finished in front of him.

“Nobody knows what to expect from Sizing Europe now either.

“Sublimity will have a breeze on Thursday and I’ll take him to the Curragh for his last serious bit of work on Monday.”