Last season’s star Irish novice hurdler Dunguib could make a return to action at Naas on January 15 in the Limestone Lad Hurdle, but connections are still not yet sure whether he is fit enough to take his chance having been affected worse than most by the recent spell of freezing weather, writes Elliot Slater.
An outstanding novice last term, the eight-year-old son of Presenting came to the Cheltenham Festival as one of the hottest Irish favourites for many a long year on the back of having passed the post first on each of his eight previous racecourse outings.
Sent off the 4/5 favourite with irish racing tips to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, trainer Philip Fenton’s charge ran well but could only finish third to Menorah, form that has subsequently been franked time and time again.
Sent off favourite with racing tips for today once more for the Grade 1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown a month later, Dunguib never travelled with his usual fluency and was probably feeling the effects of his Cheltenham effort in finishing a disappointing sixth of the fifteen runners behind current Champion Hurdle favourite Hurricane Fly.
Not seen since, Fenton nonetheless reports his stable star to be in good form at home but would have very much liked the opportunity to give him a racecourse gallop three weeks ago. Unfortunately, all racecourse and most home gallops were frozen solid at that point and Dunguib has had to do mainly light exercise in a bid to regain full fitness.
The Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13 remains the obvious target for Barry O’Connell’s mount, but Fenton made it clear that results between now and then will dictate whether or not his charge is worthy of a place in the starting line-up. A best priced 20/1 chance with Corals, Dunguib is offered at only 12/1 by Paddy Power, who clearly still hold him in high regard.
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