RACING: Turtleback remains on course for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham despite finishing only third on his first start for trainer Edward O'Grady last weekend.
The Dermot Desmond-owned runner was almost brought down in a controversial incident between Newhall and Scolardy in the Leopardstown race and sustained some cuts to his legs.
Turtleback had been heavily backed for the Triumph before the weekend but afterwards he drifted to 20/1 in most ante-post markets. However O'Grady is still hopeful of taking the horse to the festival.
"He got badly gashed and came home feeling very sorry for himself. He got wiped out but I would still hope he is on course for Cheltenham.
"We went to Leopardstown on something of a fact-finding mission. Obviously we were hoping to win but I had him in the yard for only three weeks and the main thing we had wanted was to get him settled in," O'Grady said yesterday.
The Triumph Hurdle market is still wide open after Volano's defeat in Britain yesterday and Prizeman is the new 12/1 favourite for the four-year-old prize.
Powers bet: 12 Prizeman, 14 Londener and Newhall, 16 Heezapistol, Scolardy, Tender Cove and Volano, 20 Bar.
O'Grady also saw his top hunter Sheltering beaten in the hunter chase last weekend but he is considering giving the horse another run before Cheltenham at Fairyhouse in eight days time.
One runner who will not be going to the festival is Limestone Lad who has been ruled out of the Stayers Hurdle due to a back injury. However' his connections were yesterday looking to the future with their star stayer.
"We have to be thankful for small mercies. Initially we thought the injury was life-threatening, then it was career-threatening and after that he was supposed to be out for the rest of the season. So things have improved," Michael Bowe said.
"He is in great health and there is no muscle wastage. He is still slightly stiff and that will take time to free up. He will get that time. At the moment he is just walking but when I feel he is ready he will start jogging again," he added.
The Grade One stayers' race at the Punchestown festival in late April is Limestone Lad's new target, if the ground is suitable.
A total of 59 horses have been entered for the Nakayama Grand Jump on April 13th and six Philip Hobbs-trained entrants figure among 16 nominations from Britain.
Willie Mullins' King George VI Chase winner Florida Pearl heads seven contenders from Ireland.
