Champion Hurdle contender Our Conor is unquestionably the headline act among Barry Connell's Cheltenham festival team, but the Dublin owner is adding to his supporting cast all the time and Foxrock looks set to run in the four-mile National Hunt Chase after securing back-to-back Grade Two wins at Navan yesterday.
On the back of a narrow but ultimately decisive success in the Ten Up Novice Chase, bookmakers certainly believe the amateur contest is next up for Foxrock who was cut to as low as 5 to 1 favourite for the festival marathon in some lists.
Taking the amateur route will be no use to Danny Mullins but prior to Foxrock’s success, Connell’s retained jockey had also scored in the familiar yellow and blue colours aboard Inis Mean who defied top weight in the opening handicap hurdle to earn consideration for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham.
It all adds to a hugely-powerful book of rides for the 21-year-old rider, although both he and Connell appear well aware that it is Our Conor who is centre stage.
“He’s very well and it’s all systems go now,” said Connell. “Last season he improved and improved with every run and that is proving the case again. What we need is a true-run race and being a Champion Hurdle, 99 times out of a hundred you get that.”
Genuine and tough
Foxrock can’t compare with Our Conor in terms of pace but he bows to few in terms of stamina and after scoring at Grade
Two level at Naas last month, he did the same yesterday, beating My Murphy by just half a length after being briefly headed by the third Clar Na Mionn on the run-in.
"Most jump lads like to put it to bed by three or four lengths but Danny rides with that flat style and they like to have a bit left," said Foxrock's trainer Ted Walsh who never won the Cheltenham four-miler as a jockey, although his daughter Katie memorably won it in 2010 on Poker Di Sivola.
“He did what he had to do there, and he always pulls out a bit. I love the way he puts his head down,” added Walsh.
“We’ll see how he is in three weeks’ time and if he’s healthy and well I know Barry would like to go there.”
Almost three years since his previous victory, the former bumper champion Dunguib returned in style to the winner's enclosure in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle.
The success is likley to earn the Philip Fenton-trained contender a fourth trip back to the Cheltenham festival.
The County Hurdle or the Coral Cup, for which he is quoted at 16 to 1 in some lists, are the options Fenton is weighing up for Dunguib. These handicap events are a long way from the 2011 Champion Hurdle in which he competed.
However, on the back of persistent leg troubles that kept him out of action for almost three years, this Grade Two win was a notable achievement.
Fenton was reluctant to compare the achievement to Last Instalment’s Hennessy success a week previously but said: “It’s always great to get a good horse back, and it’s great with both of them. He looked to get the trip well enough there and he was good throughout.”
The Willie Mullins-trained favourite Zaidpour plugged on for second after looking to struggle for much of the race, being pushed and niggled by Ruby Walsh for much of the final circuit.
Fenton also said the Gold Cup would likely be Last Instalment’s festival target and added: “He has a good action and good to soft ground would be fine for him. It’s just a slight concern because of his legs and because of his history I’d like it on the slow side.”
Quevega's sibling
Cheltenham does not appear to be on Bright New Dawn's agenda despite his defeat of Mallowney in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase. Dessie Hughes instead is thinking further ahead to the Powers Gold Cup at Easter.
“He looks an ideal horse for the Powers, and maybe Punchestown. I’d be happy to go up in trip with him, even three miles,” he said. “He showed today he is quick enough for two miles although on good ground he might be on top of his head.”
Willie Mullins drew a rare blank in the graded races but still notched a win with Daneking breaking his duck in the maiden hurdle. However Quevega's brother Vivega, who started an evens favourite to make a winning debut in the bumper, could finish only third to Charlie Swan's 12 to 1 winner Ballagh.
Court Jester overcame a near-14 month absence from the winners enclosure to land the Opportunity Hurdle by three quarters of a length under Jody McGarvey.
“I didn’t think he’d handle the ground as he’s lightly made, but that win is long overdue,” said trainer Sammy Wilson. “He was unlucky at the Maze when he was beaten a bob of a head.”
