Meain on course for Boylesports

Inis Meain winning in Killarney
(Healy Racing Photos)

Although also entered in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, the County Tipperary trainer says his prime objective is Leopardstown's valuable handicap.

The sponsors have taken no chances about the six-year-old, who was an easy winner on the Flat on his most recent outing at Listowel in September and make him their ante-post favourite.

Inis Meain had scored on three other occasions on the Flat during the summer since a moderate run in a conditional riders' handicap hurdle at Aintree.

"Leopardstown is Plan A, although there's still a little time to go and I have a bit of work to do with him yet," said Hogan.

"He had been running all summer and hadn't had a long time off after Aintree, so I wanted to give him a break."

Inis Meain has recently been purchased by powerful owner Barry Connell, and Hogan said: "It's great to have Barry involved in the yard and hopefully we can be lucky for him."