No decision made for Katie T and Cheltenham OLBG Hurdle

Punchestown’s Grade One Mares Hurdle in early May could be a long-term target for the Boylesports heroine Katie T.

Trainer Kevin Prendergast has confirmed Sunday's big race winner has emerged unscathed from her Leopardstown efforts but again indicated a trip to Cheltenham for the OLBG Hurdle in March isn't a priority.

“I’ve not spoken to the partners who own her and we won’t make a decision for a few days on what we are doing. There are plenty of options for mares now where we can go.

“As for Cheltenham, she might not be the best traveller in the world. She’s only six and she was only broken less than two years ago so she’s got time on her side. The prize money is quite good for mares so we will follow that route,” he said.

Katie T finished third to Annie Power in last season’s Irish Stallion Farms Champion Hurdle at Punchestown and that appears to be a likely end-of season target again.

World Hurdle

Cheltenham’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March is very much on Noel Meade’s agenda for Monksland who is in contention to start in Thursday’s Grade Two John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran.

Monksland returned from a two-year absence to run third to Lieutenant Colonel at Leopardstown over Christmas and is one of nine still left in the main support to Gowran’s €100,000 Goffs Thyestes Chase.

Monskland is a best priced 16-1 for the stayers-crown at the festival and he already boasts festival form having run third to Simonsig in the 2012 Neptune Novices Hurdle.

Lieutenant Colonel is currently the shortest priced Irish trained contender for the World Hurdle but Monksland could be taken on by Briar Hill and his stable companion Zaidpour who landed the Galmoy three years ago but failed as a 1-2 favourite behind Mala Beach last season.