Triumph Hurdle runner-up Hisaabaat for Punchestown

RACING:DERMOT WELD confirmed yesterday that his Triumph Hurdle runner up Hisaabaat will attempt to gain a second Grade One success of the season at Punchestown next month.

Beaten three lengths into second by Countrywide Flame at Cheltenham, Hisaabaat had earlier comfortably beaten his English rival at Leopardstown in February.

His festival effort was the second year in a row that Weld had to settle for second in the Triumph after Unaccompanied’s effort in 2011.

“Hisaabaat has come out of the race very well and will go to Punchestown for the champion four-year-old hurdle,” said the Curragh trainer.

Galileo’s Choice started favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but could finish only seventh. Weld indicated that the Group Three Flat winner has a number of cross-code options in the next month.

“He may go to Fairyhouse for a Grade Two novice hurdle there, or to Punchestown for a Grade One novice. Or he might run in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan,” he said. “They’re all pretty close together but it is possible he might run in two of the three.”

Weld reported that his Group One mare Emulous will be concentrating on a campaign in the second half of the new flat season, but stable stalwart Famous Name is set to reappear at Leopardstown in less than three weeks. “The Heritage Stakes is a race he has won before so he will run in that, and we’ll take it from there,” he said. “He’s an amazing horse. His enthusiasm for training and working is unbelievable.”

Weld added: “Please God he’ll get his Group One this year. We were slightly unlucky in Germany last year. The winner just got away from us. There is a Group One in him and it’s just to try and find the race. I wouldn’t be against running him in Canada or America.”