Carlingford Lough ready to make campaign bow at Navan

Last season’s Hennessy Gold Cup hero Carlingford Lough is likely to make his first start of this campaign in Sunday’s Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

It will be a first start over the smaller obstacles in over three years for the JP McManus-owned star who memorably provided Tony McCoy with a final Grade One success in Ireland when landing last February’s Hennessy at Leopardstown.

“If he works alright in the morning he’s more than likely to run in the Lismullen and hopefully that will leave him right for the John Durkan at Punchestown,” confirmed McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry.

The triple-Grade One winning chaser also has a major handicap success to his name in the 2013 Galway Plate but Carlingford Lough hasn’t raced over hurdles since winning at the 2012 Galway festival.

Next month’s Durkan is also a major target for the high-class chaser Hidden Cyclone but he will reappear first over fences in Sunday’s Fortria Chase, which will be sponsored by the Tote over the next four years.

Hidden Cyclone himself had a shot at hurdles glory during the summer in the Galway Hurdle but his trainer ‘Shark Hanlon’ has indicated he will try to secure an elusive top-flight victory at Punchestown.

“The Durkan is the big plan but two miles in the Fortria looks the job for a first start of the season,” he said. “He ran in the Galway Hurdle but jumped too big. He finished fourth, there was nothing wrong with that and he’s come back very fresh.”

It could be the New Year before Cork trainer Mick Winters knows if his former Galway Hurdle and Grade One Chase winner Rebel Fitz will be able to renew his racing career after surgery to a leg injury.

“He’s had his operation and it’s 50-50 whether he comes right or not to run again. ” Winters said.

“The surgeon said he was happy after the operation and I asked him what his gut feeling was after the operation and he said it was good. That means a lot. It will be three months.”