Fenton not ruling out Champion

NEWS ROUND-UP:PHILIP FENTON has confirmed that Dunguib is on track to run at Leopardstown on Sunday week and conceded there remains a "slight possibility" the outstanding novice could yet switch Cheltenham targets and run in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Last season’s bumper champion is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles this season and is already filling the role of “Irish banker” for the upcoming festival in March, with general odds of even money being available on him for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Fenton has repeatedly insisted that is the race he is aiming Dunguib for despite the horse being among a total of 21 Irish hopes among the 34 entries left in the Champion Hurdle.

The Co Tipperary trainer stressed that again yesterday as he continues Dunguib’s build-up to the Grade One Deloitte Hurdle in 11 days time but Fenton also didn’t completely rule out a late switch.

“You never say never. There are various ins and outs and I suppose there is a slightly possibility he could run in the Champion,” Fenton said yesterday.

“But if it is up to me, he will head for the Supreme. Looking at Solwhit win the last day, the novice hurdle will do me fine,” he added.

Dunguib is a 12 to 1 shot, with some firms in general betting for the Champion Hurdle while others continue to quote him at 4 to 1 “with a run” if a late decision is taken to chance the novice against the big boys on the opening day of the 2010 festival.

More immediately, Leopardstown’s Deloitte will be Dunguib’s target and Fenton added: “He will do a bit of work next week and if he is in good form he will go to Leopardstown.”

Since Dunguib’s last appearance, when winning the Grade One Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in late November, his position at the top of the novice rankings has been uncontested, although in the last week there have been a number of impressive performances by the likes of Dermot Weld’s Rite Of Passage and Peddlers Cross, who landed a Grade Two at Haydock.

“We respect every horse, but we are also very happy with our horse right now,” Fenton said.

English trainer Richard Lee has ruled his Welsh National third Le Beau Bai out of a trip to Leopardstown for the Hennessy Gold Cup and will instead aim his stayer at Haydock’s Blue Square Gold Cup.

“His Hennessy entry was speculative. I know Denman is not going now but even so there would be one or two good ones and he would be wrong at the weights,” Lee said yesterday.

“I think we will give it a miss and go to Haydock for the three-and-a-half miler. The horse is very ground dependant – the softer the better,” he added.

There are eight Irish-trained entries for the Blue Square Gold Cup in a month’s time.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has left in the quartet of Beroni, Ballytrim, Arbor Supreme and Pomme Tiepy. Tony Martin has three remaining in the race – Lochan Lacha, Hold The Pin and Newbay Prop – while Noel Meade could rely on the dour stayer, Parsons Pistol.