Lounaos set for Tipp return
Eoin Griffin hopes Lounaos can return to form in the Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf Resort Tipperary Hurdle tomorrow.
The five-year-old mare is on a retrieval mission in her first race for six months after last season struggling to repeat her smart juvenile form.
"This is her first run back. She's doing everything right for us at home so we'll see how she gets on. The soft ground should suit her," said the County Kilkenny trainer.
"Hopefully we might have a better season than we had last year. We are keeping our fingers crossed things will go well for her. She's working well at home and she's in good order.
"It was just maybe a difficult year for her after her three-year-old season. I suppose there is a question mark, but hopefully she will be better."
Cork All Star has also failed to live up to expectations, but his trainer Jessica Harrington is more concerned about the ground being too soft for the 2007 Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner.
"Hopefully he's come on for his recent run on the Flat," said the County Kildare-based handler.
"I just hope all the rain doesn't come. It was supposed to be raining all day and I'd be worried if it got too soft."
Harrington has a major chance with Jumbajukiba in the most valuable race on a mixed card, the Group Three Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes.
"He's in good form and I'm happy with him. This race isn't at the Curragh, which is the only problem," she said.
"He's got to give weight away but I don't think that's too much bother to him. He's a big strong horse."
The ground is also a concern for Desert Abbey in the Tipperary Supporters Club Joe Mac Novice Hurdle.
"She's very well, but I'm a bit worried about the ground - but you've got to take your chance," Harrington added.
Griffin is also looking for a big run from Lucky Wish in the Grade Three contest.
"He's a horse I think highly of," he revealed.
"He won very impressively at Roscommon but he ran way below what he's capable of at Galway as he got well worked up in the preliminaries.
"We've given him a little break and have been working on getting him relaxed at home.
"The form of his races are working out well. He's a lovely big horse and whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus as chasing is his game. We have high hopes for him."
Griffin also believes Artiste Bay will be seen in a better light in the O'Dwyer Steel Like-A-Butterfly Novice Chase after disappointing on his latest start.
"I ran him back a bit too quick at Listowel, it was only 10 days after he won at Galway," he said.
"This two and a half (miles) is probably his minimum trip. We have tried to freshen him up a little bit and hopefully he'll do himself justice tomorrow."
