Racing: Dunguib made a victorious seasonal bow as he proved the best of the three runners in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle. Philip Fenton's charge won two Grade Ones as a novice last year before coming unstuck when a hot favourite at Cheltenham, finishing only third behind Menorah in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
He subsequently failed to cut the mustard when upped to full company at Punchestown and he was having his first start since that comprehensive beating at the hands of Hurricane Fly.
The eight-year-old was still sent off the 8-11 favourite for this Grade Two event though and he looked a little ring-rusty as Brian O’Connell let him hack around at the back of the field as Luska Lad set the rhythm.
However, his jumping improved as the pace turned up a notch at halfway and he was travelling sweetly two-out as he moved upsides.
Luska Lad made a good race of it though and they were together coming to the last but a good leap from Dunguib sealed the win and he pulled three and a half lengths clear.
Fenton was delighted to see Dunguib get back on track and the Cheltenham Festival is now on his agenda again.
“I’m very pleased with that on a number of counts. Firstly it was good to get his first run of the season under his belt,” said the trainer. “Secondly, he was an extremely fit horse five or six weeks ago and while he recovered from his infection (which resulted in a bad blood count), each week we were seeing improvement in him.
“We were lucky today’s race was put back as I’ve been much happier with him in the last 10 days. It was great not to have too hard a race today and it was just what he needed. He settled after a few hurdles today and his jumping improved as the pace increased and he was slick over the last three flights.
“We’ll go straight for the Champion Hurdle now and today will keep the dream alive for another while.”