EDWARD O’GRADY is hoping an Auteuil afterthought will pay off in style for Alaivan when the leading Irish four-year-old travels to Paris this Sunday.
Alaivan finished third to Saldatino in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March but missed a Grade One engagement at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago due to a slight injury setback.
However, a summer out on grass will have to wait for the ex-John Oxx-trained star as he has been confirmed an intended starter in Sunday’s Grade Two Prix Amadou, a €175,000 contest run over almost two and a half miles.
“He was supposed to run at Punchestown but got this small little setback that week and couldn’t run. He got over it quickly and we were about to leave him out to grass when the option of running in this race came up,” O’Grady said yesterday.
“He is in such good form we have decided to take advantage of the opportunity to run although nothing will be decided about future plans until after he runs on Sunday,” the Co Tipperary-based trainer added.
Andrew McNamara is unable to do the weight on Alaivan this weekend and Philip Carberry, who is now based in France, will take over in the saddle.
O’Grady could run the maiden, Suffren, in another four-year-old hurdle on Sunday’s Auteuil card if he isn’t balloted out. Suffren also holds an entry at Killarney on Sunday.
O’Grady’s high-class hurdler Jumbo Rio took on the best of the French four-year-olds last year, including when runner-up to Rendons Grace in the Auteuil equivalent of the Triumph Hurdle, the Prix Alain Du Breil.
Alaivan’s stable companion has already been back to the Paris track, finishing runner-up to the local champion, Questarabad, at the end of last month.
Alaivan is not certain to go down the Alain Du Breil route later in the summer but the French Champion Hurdle, the Grande Course d’Haies d’Auteuil, is on Jumbo Rio’s agenda next month.
“Jumbo Rio ran a brilliant race the last day. He jumped the last in front and came down the middle of the track while Questarabad, who is a champion, came down the stands rail. Some of the French thought we were unlucky but I’m not sure about that. I just thought he was a little free. But we got €38,500 for second which isn’t bad,” O’Grady remarked.
“He could run in the French Champion Hurdle next. It would mean meeting Questarabad again, and he would be two kilos better in, plus it would be our first time at three miles. But we are tempted to go back again,” he added.
O’Grady could strike closer to home at Clonmel this evening where the 122-rated Taradoun looks sure to be a major player in the two-mile Beginners Chase.
The trainer also has Garlic Hill in the concluding maiden hurdle but this could be an opportunity for Stormyisland Ahead who was running a decent race until falling two out at Fairyhouse last time.
Aidan O’Brien will be represented by Great Wisdom in the second of a pair of two-mile handicaps on the flat and this doesn’t look as tough a task as when the horse ran third to Haralan and Beau Michael at Leopardstown last month.
Mr Pianist has to travel half a mile further than ever before on the flat in the first handicap but if he does stay, then his last start behind Sugar Baby Love is an encouraging piece of form.
Montero fell in the Scottish National but has a rare flat start in the opening maiden where Bohola Lady may provide a touch of value.
