NEWS ROUND-UP:EDWARD O'GRADY'S top hurdler Catch Me is set to pursue a fact-finding mission at Leopardstown over Christmas and test his Cheltenham Festival credentials over three miles.
The ex-German star broke his Grade One duck in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse last month, a victory that initially left O'Grady in a quandary about whether to campaign Catch Me back over two miles or graduate to marathon distances.
However, it now looks likely that he will go in the Woodies Stayers Hurdle over Christmas.
"I'm pretty certain he will run over three miles because I want to establish once and for all if he stays it.
"If he proves to me that he does stay three miles I think it might be a good year for him to have a crack at the World Hurdle," O'Grady said yesterday.
"If he proves to me he doesn't, then we might have to think in terms of the Aintree Hurdle."
Catch Me's only previous start at three miles came in last April's stayers hurdle at Punchestown when he ran fifth to Blazing Bailey.
He remains an entry in the December Festival Hurdle over two miles on the last day of Leopardstown but now looks likely to skip a clash with Sizing Europe and Brave Inca who are both intended starters in that race.
Another O'Grady-trained Grade One star who is likely to have a quiet Christmas though is Tranquil Sea who disappointed in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse behind Trafford Lad.
A number of holiday options look set to be passed up by the Punchestown Festival winner as his trainer takes his time with the Cheltenham contender.
"We have done all the checks with him and all the boxes have been ticked.
"However, the fact we can't find anything wrong with him now doesn't mean there wasn't anything wrong with him on the day. I didn't think he looked right at Fairyhouse," O'Grady added yesterday.
"We might never find out what was wrong and hopefully it will go away of its own accord. What I do know is that he is in great form again but I think I'll be better off giving Christmas a miss with him. Ideally I'd like to get two more races into him if we are to think of Cheltenham," he said.
