Colonel Yeager had a sauntering success under his new rider Richard Dunwoody at Punchestown yesterday but it has yet to be decided who will ride the gelding in the Citreon Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
In the absence of Cardinal Hill, Colonel Yeager was a 1 to 7 favourite to beat just two rivals and after being sent to the front at the second flight, he only had to be shaken up by Dunwoody to win by 12 lengths.
As a trial it was something of a non-event and Colonel Yeager, owned by Ryanair executive Cathal Ryan, remains a 10 to 1 chance for Cheltenham. However, trainer Martin Lynch was at pains to emphasise that the horse's usual rider, Ruby Walsh, has not been jocked off.
"There has been no falling out. It's just that Willie Mullins has horses entered in the Cheltenham race and may claim Ruby. Instead of everyone else holding the trump cards we wanted a trump card of our own and with Richard Dunwoody we now have another option for Cheltenham. I'm sure Ruby will ride the horse again," said Lynch.
Dunwoody, though, was noncommittal about what he will ride in the opening race of the Festival. He said: "The ground (heavy) didn't help but I was impressed with him. But I can't say yet about Cheltenham."
Noel Meade declared himself satisfied that he had made the right decision to withdraw Cardinal Hill after watching the testing going in the first race.
"The ground is deplorable. Fitness wise I have no worries about Cheltenham but there is a good chance he could run at Navan next weekend," he said.
Cardinal Hill's stable companion, Cockney Lad, will also travel to Cheltenham for the Arkle Trophy after breaking his chasing duck in impressive style in the Tied Cottage Novice Chase. It was a different Cockney Lad to the one that had Paul Carberry in the stewards' room last weekend as the chestnut cruised through to beat Gazalani by five easy lengths.
"He has had a different preparation this year and I think he will start to fire in the spring. That will have done his confidence good and on better ground he will give His Song a race at Cheltenham," said Meade.
However, for Cheltenham hints there was none stronger than Biliverdin's winning reappearance in the last which saw him cut to 8 to 1 for the Festival Bumper. Philip Fenton drove him out to win by seven lengths from Aonfocaleile and trainer Sheena Collins was thrilled with the performance on the ground.
"I'm very pleased. He doesn't like that going and he will improve. He has earned his trip across the water and I would like Philip to keep the ride. He has done nothing wrong on the horse and is as good as any pro," she said. Fenton later got a two-day ban for unnecessary use of whip on Biliverdin.
Magical Approach slogged through the Grand National Trial ahead of the Dessie Hughes pair, Super Dealer and Roundwood, but the effort resulted in him lacking oxygen and it was some time before he could return to the enclosures. "It will take him a while to get over it but he will be entered for the Irish Grand National," said trainer Liam Burke.
Roundwood's rider Garrett Cotter got a four-day ban for using his whip excessively but had earlier taken the opener on Barba Papa while Magical Approach's rider Adrian Maguire cruised to victory on Conagher Leader in the handicap hurdle.
