DERRYMOYLE goes to Cheltenham next month in search of a hat trick in either the Smurfit Champion Hurdle or the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle after another easy success at Navan on Saturday.
Held up as usual for a late run by Mark Dwyer, and hardly out of a canter most of the three mile trip of the Boyne Hurdle, the 2 to 1 on favourite was tracking Richard Dunwoody's front running mount What A Question all the way up the straight.
Dwyer sent him to the front on landing over the last before pulling clear for a four lengths, bloodless success. "He has had two handy races in conditions hurdles at Punchestown and here and he definitely goes to Cheltenham, where the state of the going will determine his task," said winning trainer Michael Cunningham.
"He might take his chance in the Champion Hurdle if the ground is very soft. The alternative is the Stayers' Hurdle on better ground which he probably prefers although he handled the mud pretty well here," added Cunningham.
Derrymoyle carries the colours of Herb Stanley, whose Merry Gale is sidelined since his disappointing run in the King George VI Tripleprint Gold Cup. "Derrymoyle has paid his way to Cheltenham. I would probably prefer him to have a crack at the Stayers' Hurdle, because the Champion Hurdle these days is more often than won by the speed horses, said Galway based owner Stanley.
Derrymoyle was third in the Ladbroke Hurdle, just in front of the impressive Newbury winner Squire Silk.
Simon Dow's Confronter made his fourth appearance of the year at Cagnes sur Mer yesterday, and put up his best effort to date in finishing a gallant second in the Prix de Vallauris.
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