WAR OF ATTRITION is set for a fairytale return to Cheltenham in three weeks, but trainer Mouse Morris rejects any idea that it will be just a nostalgic outing for the former Gold Cup hero.
Michael O’Leary’s veteran is a 25 to 1 outsider in many lists for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but he has looked reinvigorated by a return to the smaller obstacles. And, with a pair of Grade Two wins already under his belt in the last month, Morris is relishing the idea of taking on the heavy odds-on favourite Big Bucks.
“I haven’t entered him for the fun of it and it is certainly not about nostalgia,” the Co Tipperary-based trainer said yesterday.
“He is a much happier horse these days. There had been something hurting in his back, but we had something done about that and he’s in great form again.”
It is four years since War Of Attrition recorded a memorable Gold Cup success at Cheltenham, but he is now in line for a fourth festival appearance. The horse was just touched off by Brave Inca in the 2004 Supreme and the following year was seventh in the Arkle.
Morris was angry with English handicapper Phil Smith last week over the mark allocated to War Of Attrition for the Aintree Grand National and initially indicated the horse wouldn’t be going to Liverpool in April.
However, he said yesterday: “Nothing is set in stone. Before the weights came out, it looked like he would miss Cheltenham and we would be going to Liverpool. But the way the handicap was compressed means there has been a change of priority.
“I’m not ruling out the National, but the plan right now is to go to Cheltenham.”
Asked about Smith’s subsequent arguments for placing War Of Attrition where he did in the National weights, Morris quipped: “I’ve yet to meet a handicapper who admits to making a mistake!”
