According to his trainer Philip Fenton, Irish star Dunguib, one of the star novice hurdlers of last season, is within four weeks of a return to action and a chance to confirm himself a genuine contender for top honours in the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March, writes Elliot Slater.
One of the Irish bankers for last season’s Cheltenham Festival when sent off at cheltenham odds of 4/5 to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle following an eight-race winning sequence, Dunguib could only finish third behind Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here, a disappointing effort at the time, but one that has subsequently proved to be high-class form.
Sent off favourite once again a month later at Punchestown to win the Grade 1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle, the seven-year-old could only finish sixth when looking as if a hard season had taken its toll of him. Now, after a long break through summer and autumn, Dunguib is on the way back and connections are targeting the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on January 15, or the Red Mills Trial Hurdle some four weeks later.
Fenton reported that he has been able to keep his stable star ticking over during the freezing weather conditions endured over the last few weeks, but that he needs to increase his training schedule to have him ready to do himself justice when eventually the wintry weather releases its grip and he does get the chance to set foot on a racecourse.
Most bookmakers and cheltenham gold cup betting pundits have priced up the son of Presenting at 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle, but Paddy Power appear reluctant to get too involved in the horse that some saw last year as the next great Irish hurdler after Istabraq, and make him just a 12/1 shot to win the two-mile hurdling crown on the third Tuesday in March.
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