Attrition sound after fine Durkan run

Mouse Morris is in no hurry to decide on War Of Attrition’s Christmas objective following his run at Punchestown.

The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero finished third to Noland in the John Durkan Chase over an inadequate distance and on unsuitable ground.

After that run over two and a half miles it will definitely be back to three miles for the nine-year-old in either the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day or nearer home in the

Lexus Chase at Leopardstown two days later.

“There’s not a bother on him,” said the Co Tipperary trainer.

“We’ll see in a few days where we go over Christmas. It will be one of those two. We’ll see how he is and how the ground is and decide nearer the day.”

Morris believes Michael O’Leary’s gelding put up a sound performance considering the two main disadvantages he faced.

“I suppose everything was against him and he’s run a big race all right,” he went on.

“I wasn’t disappointed. He didn’t even jump with his usual fluency out of that ground and he was up against out-and-out two and a half milers.”