Liane in good heart after Leopardstown success

River Liane is reported to be in rude health after his easy victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Tom Cooper´s four-year-old hosed up against older horses and is now a general 4-1 chance for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A French import, he had been highly tried in his homeland and looks favourably treated on 10st 6lb, which includes a 4lb penalty incurred at the weekend.

"You wouldn´t know he´d had a race," said Cooper.

"He was very impressive and he´d do more in a serious piece of work at home.

"He hadn´t run on the Flat and in his first ever run he came up against Tatenen and finished third.

"The better ground definitely suited him, he´d done all his racing in France on the soft. He was very lively when he got home.

"With the penalty he should be certain to get in now and Davy Russell will be on him, he was very keen to keep the ride."