Sport

O'Brien will be doubly represented

CHAMPION Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien put his cards on the table yesterday for the 10th Ladbroke Limited Extended Handicap Hurdle…

Tue Jan 09 1996 - 00:00

CHAMPION Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien put his cards on the table yesterday for the 10th Ladbroke Limited Extended Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Jim Old and owner Wally Sturt appear to hold the tactical aces for if they run Mole Board - currently heading the weights on 11st 12lb - stablemate Collier Bay would be on a tempting 10st 12lb with 14 of the 32 acceptors out of the handicap.

Old was delaying his decision yesterday on whether both, one or none travel over for the £60,000-added contest.

However, Aidan O'Brien will run both of his entries, Kaldan Khan and Crossfarnogue, with jockey Charlie Swan having the choice.

READ MORE

"Crossfarnogue is going very well at the moment and although Kaldan Khan looks the more obvious form choice, the former did win his last race - in September - by eight lengths," said the Ballydoyle trainer.

Second favourite Express Gift is in great form after his race-course workout at Newcastle on Friday according to trainer Mary Reveley who sounded a warning to ante-post backers about the ground.

"His prospects of running are not good if the going gets bottomless in fact he won't go. But he is in fine shape after his gallop and we were very pleased with him," said Mrs Reveley. "Peter Niven will take the ride."

Simon Dow's William Hill Handicap Hurdle winner Chief's Song is a definite runner even though the ground seems to be going against him. "He will probably run whatever the state of the ground," said Dow.

"Chief's Song is going really well at the moment and although we couldn't do as much with him as we would have liked during the freeze, he doesn't take much getting ready.

"The ground isn't ideal but it is probably better that it keeps raining than dries up and becomes tacky as, being a light-actioned horse, he will go through loose ground better. Richard Dunwoody is down to ride in some papers but that is not confirmed."

A spokesman for Leopardstown said yesterday: "We currently have soft ground, but the forecast for the week is for showery rain. The course drains well if we have a couple of dry days, but that's not likely and the going, could be soft/heavy by Saturday.