Roche waits on Weapon aim

Connections of Lethal Weapon have yet to make a firm decision on whether the Grade One winner will head for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Christy Roche’s four-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and marked himself down as a leading Irish juvenile when denying Tharawaat in the Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

The JP McManus-owned chestnut is currently enjoying short break, with Roche in no rush to make future plans.

Roche said: “He ran a great race at Leopardstown in what was a decent contest.

“Whether it is Triumph Hurdle form we’ll have to see, but that would be the way we are looking at this stage.

“It’s great to have won a Grade One with him already and I would say it is unlikely he will have a run before Cheltenham if that’s the way we go with him.

“When he gets back from his break, the decision will be made whether he goes for the Triumph or whether he goes elsewhere.

“He’s a lovely, genuine horse who loves his jumping and he has answered our every call.

“You can’t ask any more than what he has done so far and we will just have to see how far he can go.”