RACING:DUNGUIB, IRISH racing's great white hope this time last year, but subsequently a controversial Cheltenham failure, is back to try to rehabilitate his reputation at Gowran today and earn a return ticket to the festival in the process.
The former Bumper champion hasn’t been seen in action in almost 10 months but is still as low as 14 to 1 in ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle.
Such odds will be put to the test in this afternoon’s Grade Two Red Mills Trial where Dunguib faces a pair of opponents that includes last year’s winner Luska Lad.
Theoretically Philip Fenton’s star faces a mammoth task as Luska Lad is almost a stone well in with him on official figures but those betting on Dunguib will be banking on the potential that he has oozed for most of his career.
Even that Cheltenham third last year, which saw criticism heaped on jockey Brian O’Connell, can be viewed in a different light now considering the impact Menorah has made this season.
An impressive victory for Dunguib today would add another ingredient to an already intriguing Champion Hurdle picture but Fenton warned yesterday that the horse should improve for the run.
“He’s very well, but obviously he will improve for the run. That said, we’ve got plenty of work done with him and we hope he’ll run a very good race. He’s had one or two problems but hopefully they are behind him. He’s improving each week,” he said.
If Dunguib remains all about potential, Luska Lad actually has form in the book this season where he overcame a previous bias against going left-handed to finish just a couple of lengths off Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon is aiming Luska Lad at the Aintree Hurdle rather than Cheltenham and it is hard to ignore this season’s credentials in what could emerge as a match.
Jessica Harrington runs Gimli’s Rock against the big two in the hurdle but the in-form trainer’s best chance could be in today’s other Grade Two with Roberto Goldback.
The nine-year-old appeared to be almost mugged by Follow The Plan in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles last time where the bypassing of the final fence could have been crucial to the result.
“He’s been running well and maybe he has been a bit unlucky, but he is in really good form. The ground shouldn’t be a problem,” Harrington said yesterday. “The horses are running well. Hopefully they continue to do so.”
Willie Mullins has Scotsirish in this afternoon’s big chase and the horse also holds an entry in tomorrow’s big two-mile chase at Naas.
However the champion trainer’s best chances today could come with the newcomer Capisci in the bumper and Tawaagg in the Beginners Chase.
The latter failed by just half a length on his fencing debut at Leopardstown.
Paul Carberry and Gordon Elliott had a controversial day at Punchestown on Wednesday but can regain winning form in the handicap hurdle with Chino Valdes who is 12lbs higher in the ratings for a Fairyhouse success last time.
