HORSE RACING: Dunguib, 5-4 favourite with Paddy Power for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been given a ‘precautionary’ entry for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in which the 7 year old is 4-1 (with a run)
Trainer Philip Fenton said: “Dunguib will go someplace tomorrow away from home for some work. He doesn’t take a huge amount of work and it will be a half-speed, but obviously a bit more than at home.
He missed a bit of work over the three weeks of Christmas but he’s been ticking over and I think that he’s on track for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 7.
There is the paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas on the 21st if we need it if it so happens that he doesn’t make Leopardstown.”
The Co Waterford handler has said that it makes sense to keep novices with novices and while the Supreme is his main target, he has been entered for the Champion.
Fenton continued: “He’s had an entry in the Champion Hurdle and we will take it step by step. We will see how Leopardstown goes, but the Supreme is without doubt the main objective.
But as a precaution he’s in the Champion and we will decide closer to the day and see what happens in the meantime.
This horse would not be in love with heavy ground or anything like good to firm or firm, but good ground is fine as is good to yielding or genuine good to soft ground.”
Punters who think that Fenton may be tempted by the Champion might like to consider Power’s 4-1 as they have the guarantee of ‘with a run’.
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