Carr Stalls On Sublimity Decision

John Carr has warned Sublimity could go straight for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle if he misses Leopardstown on Sunday.

The trainer may pull out his stable star from the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle if the ground was too testing.

'The ground is very bad over here at the moment and you couldn't even canter on most of my land now,' said Carr.

'We want to run him on Sunday if we can. The plan was the Bula, the AIG and the Champion Hurdle.

'We are going to hold off making a decision until the last minute. If the ground is as bottomless as it is now then we would have to have a rethink.

'There is a race in three weeks' time but that would be too near the Champion Hurdle for him.'

Sublimity was fourth to Osana in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle, formerly known as the Bula Hurdle, on his reappearance and Carr confessed the horse needed the run more than he thought.

'We were very conscious of having ready for a late campaign so I was probably a little too easy on him. I thought he would blow up after the last but he blew up before that,' added the County Kildare-based handler.

'He still ran a good race and if the ground was nice on Sunday you'd see a lot fitter horse now. He's ready to rock and roll.

'The plan has always been the Champion Hurdle again. If we pick up anything else on the way that would be a bonus.

'Providing it dries up from Wednesday on you'll see him at Leopardstown,' Carr told At The Races.

Sublimity is favourite at a general 4-1 to retain his Champion Hurdle crown.

(C) PA Sport