Attrition building up for World Hurdle

War Of Attrition enjoyed a day out at Thurles over the weekend as Mouse Morris prepares his veteran for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has been hit by a number of injury problems over the past few seasons but is now set to return to the scene of his finest hour following Grade 2 victories at Gowran Park and Navan over timber this season.

Morris said: "He's bang on course all being well and went away to Thurles at the weekend. It was just a day away to keep him interested but he is pretty much fully cooked now and we'll just keep him ticking over until Cheltenham."

He added: "He's in good order and is just as well as he was before Navan the last day, so we'll see what happens. The ground isn't as important as it was a couple of years ago, when he really needed decent ground.

"He's getting older and is a bit slower nowadays and if we get just genuine good to soft ground that will be grand. If it is softer though, I won't be as worried as I would have been a couple of years ago."

Morris is hopeful a few of his other raiders will also give a good account of themselves at the Festival.

"We're just waiting to see what weight China Rock gets for the Jewson (Novices' Handicap Chase) as that would probably be the race for him," the trainer added.

"He's run well in some good races this season but being by Presenting, the ground is the key to him and he'll be a better horse on better ground. The Hurl will probably go for the three-mile novice hurdle (Albert Bartlett) and Tinakellylad could go for the four-miler (National Hunt Chase)."