Owner Philip Reynolds has mooted That the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown.

With had one outing over hurdles , he could only finish eighth although the eight-year-old was sent off favourite for the Gold Cup.
Issues were discovered which prevented him but all those have now been solved.
Reynolds told the Irish Field:”it is a case of so far, so good. Pat (Kelly, trainer) and Jerry Kelly (vet) are content with him and once they are happy that will do me.
“He had a small procedure to remove fluid out of his spine and that I don’t know if that had anything to do with the way he ran Cheltenham. We found he had bruising post Cheltenham.
“He’s starting off the season exactly like everyone and the reality is that he may just be”another horse”.
“This time last year I could not lie straight in bed with excitement. I think that the best opportunity a horse has of winning a Gold Cup would be straight after their newcomer season. Today he will be meeting with all last seasons novices, along with Al Boum Photo, so we’ll just have to see where he fits in.
“it is a little early to say where he will start back. What needs to be right for him, although we’ll get started somewhere before Christmas.
“Clonmel will come too soon for him personally , as will Down Royal, therefore I suppose you could be taking a look at exactly the John Durkan in Punchestown. Then remains to be seen where he could go there is a good deal of water.
“I just hope we don’t have yet another winter like last year – the ground was quick all winter and a repeat would be a disaster.”

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