RACING:PAUL FLYNN is already thinking of a return to Cheltenham in March for the festival after Moon Dice's unlucky fourth in Sunday's Greatwood Hurdle at the track.

The Galway Hurdle winner was hampered in his run before the final flight but rallied to finish fourth behind Bramapour, a performance that has opened up a series of options for the Co Longford-based trainer.

“I thought he was unlucky. Everybody said he wouldn’t have beaten the winner, but he got stopped in his run. He lost his momentum and it cost him more than the three lengths he was beaten,” said Flynn.

“Ideally he wants better ground, it was a little bit sticky for him on Sunday. The ground in March will suit him a lot better and he’ll go back to Cheltenham for something. It would probably look a bit silly going for the Champion, I don’t know. I don’t really care about his hurdle mark because he’s going to go chasing next season whatever happens. You’d imagine the County or even the Coral Cup might suit him.

“I’m also looking at Leopardstown at Christmas, but the ground might not suit him so he might not run again until Cheltenham in March then Aintree and Punchestown and have break after that.”

Six vie for Horse of the Year

SIX star names, headed by the Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly, have been nominated for “Horse Of The Year” honours at next month’s Horse Racing Ireland awards.

The other nominees for the big prize include last year’s winner Big Zeb, his Champion Chase conqueror, Sizing Europe, champion mare Quevega and the Aidan O’Brien trained duo, So You Think and Fame And Glory. O’Brien has again been nominated for the flat race award but is joined by his teenage son, Joseph, who shot to prominence with a brilliant recent Breeders’ Cup success on St Nicholas Abbey in Kentucky earlier this month.

The ninth year of the awards takes place on December 12th and the guest of honour will be Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.