JP McManus duo in contention for Morgiana hurdle at Punchestown

JP McManus could be responsible for two runners as the prominent owner attempts to stop Willie Mullins winning the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle for a sixth time on the bounce.

Mullins appears to hold all of the aces in the Grade One at Punchestown on Sunday after having entered seven of the 10 possible runners, including star trio Faugheen, Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag.

But McManus is also set to be represented with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Ivanovich Gorbatov, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner but disappointing upon his return to action at Naas on November 6.

The owner could even have another string to his bow in the shape of Gavin Cromwell's Jer's Girl, who missed an intended run at Navan last Sunday due to a skin allergy.

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry told the Irish Times: "Joseph's horse will run.

"It's a bit up in the air about the mare after what happened on Sunday but Gavin must be happy she's all right to have entered her.

"It's possible the two of them could run."