THE STAR novice Dunguib has been taken out of the Champion Hurdle and is on target to carry Irish hopes in Tuesday’s Cheltenham festival-opener, the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Trainer Philip Fenton issued an upbeat report on Dunguib yesterday, and said: “He’s grand and all has gone very smoothly. He will possibly jump a few hurdles on Thursday morning before he heads off.
“I’ve been very happy with him since Leopardstown. He has jumped several hurdles since and jumped them very well.”
Thirty-four entries remain in the Supreme, but they don’t include Loosen My Load.
Henry De Bromhead has pulled stumps on a possible Cheltenham festival challenge by his talented novice, who will instead be kept for Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
Sizing Europe’s stable companion hasn’t been seen since landing a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November, and time has run out in De Bromhead’s attempts to get him ready for a return.
“He’s fine but we’ve decided not to go to Cheltenham with him this year,” the Waterford trainer said yesterday. “He started off in bumpers in the summer so we had to give him a break at some stage and it has taken a while to get him back to fitness.
“Cheltenham is coming too soon, but he will be ready for Fairyhouse, and we will have a fresh horse to go to Punchestown as well,” he added.
De Bromhead is set to mount a three-pronged challenge on next week’s festival, with Sizing Australia (Cross Country Chase) and Changing Course (Byrne Group Plate) joining the big Arkle fancy Sizing Europe.
In other Cheltenham news, it was confirmed this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle will be the last run under the paper-packaging company’s title. It brings to an end a sponsorship deal that stretches back to 1991 when Morley Street won the famous race.
“Smurfit Kappa has been an excellent partner who will be difficult to replace, but we have already had some interest from other parties,” said Cheltenham spokesman Peter McNeile.
During that time, Istabraq became the most famous winner with his three-in-row in 1998 to 2000, but Michael Smurfit’s efforts to win the race he sponsors failed, with Vintage Crop running fifth in 1992 and Fortune And Fame having to miss the race in 1994 due to injury when a warm favourite.
Ruby Walsh is at Clonmel today and teams up with the Tony Martin-trained Psycho in the Beginners Chase. The former high-class handicap hurdler ran seventh to Sports Line at Navan and Walsh’s booking looks significant.
The champion jockey will also be in action over fences when he again teams up with the Fairyhouse winner The Corby Glenn, who can defy a 10lb penalty in the handicap chase.
Front running tactics can play to Coscorrig’s strengths in the mares’ Beginners Chase, while Shorecliffe King, who ran into the gambled-on Cayo Levantado on his previous start, can go one better in the handicap hurdle.
