Accordion on Galway trail

Paul Nolan is aiming to lay down the foundations for a potential attempt at a third victory in the Guinness Galway Hurdle by running French Accordion at Limerick on Sunday.

Say Again, Cloone River and Cuan Na Grai have captured the valuable handicap for the Wexford trainer in recent years and he hopes French Accordion, a full brother to the classy Accordion Etoile, can adjust to the return from fences.

The eight-year-old was a Grade Three winner over hurdles as a novice and hit a fine run last winter in a novice-chasing campaign, racking up a four-timer including one in open company in Navan’s Fortria Chase.

He is due to run in the Coffey Construction Handicap Hurdle at Limerick over two and a half miles and Nolan explained: “We’re giving him a run really because he is much lower rated over hurdles than fences.

“He ran well on the Flat the other day and will have come on a lot for that. He hit a good run of form over hurdles a few years ago and then lost his way before he really got himself back going again over fences.

“The same thing happened over fences and he got a bit wayward.

“Hopefully it will help trying him back over hurdles and it depends how it goes on Sunday, but we might be able to look at something like the Galway Hurdle.”