Hanlon eyeing top prizes with Leader

John Hanlon has given his dual bumper winner Western Leader as one who could rise to the top of the tree during the winter months.

Hanlon sent out Luska Lad to four bumper wins last season, with Cheltenham Festival hero Dunguib one of only two horses to claim his scalp.

Western Leader is rated superior to his stablemate by Hanlon, and his owner Barry Connell will be in the plate when the five-year-old races in Down Royal next month.

Hanlon said: “He was won two bumpers so far, and I think he is a proper horse.

“I think he is better than Luska Lad was at this stage and he could be a Cheltenham horse.

“He’ll run in Down Royal at the beginning of November. He’ll then go to Navan for a Graded bumper and we’ll take it from there.”