RACING NEWS:THE COLOURS of Britain's Queen Elizabeth could make a rare appearance in Ireland later this month as the high-class steeplechaser Barber's Shop is a possible contender for the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown festival, writes BRIAN O'CONNOR
Trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed yesterday Barber’s Shop could have one more run this season having finished seventh to Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his last start. “It was Barry Geraghty (jockey) who first mooted the idea as he couldn’t see what else would be running in the race,” he said. “The horse has only had three runs this season so we will see how he is and how the ground is. It is vital it isn’t fast.”
Henderson has already spoken to the queen about the possibility of a rare royal runner in Ireland. “The queen says we should stick him in the race and see how he is in a week’s time,” he added. “She was worried about the way our Cheltenham horses ran at Aintree but there is an extra three weeks to Punchestown which makes things different. I am not saying he will definitely run but he will be entered.”
The queen’s racing interests had been mostly on the flat for years but the death of the Queen Mother saw the famous royal colours transferred to the National Hunt arena as well.
The last royal runner in Ireland was when Norman Conqueror lined up for the 1996 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in the queen mother’s old colours. The last royal winner was Mascara who won on the flat here in 1971 and was trained by John Oxx Senior. Henderson could have up to seven runners at the Punchestown festival including the Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi who will attempt back-to-back victories in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle on the fourth day of the festival.
Punjabi has a fine record at the Co Kildare course having won the champion juvenile hurdle in 2007 as well. Another contender could be the appropriately named Punchestowns who will target the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle over three miles if ground conditions are suitable.
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