Ronald Pump heads straight for Cheltenham

Ronald Pump is set for Cheltenham after Matthew Smith talked down an appearance in the Boyne Hurdle.

The eight-year-old gelding was last seen finishing a close second to the unbeaten Honeysuckle in the Grade One Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November.

That defeat, by half a length, can be viewed in an even better light after Honeysuckle impressively retained her Irish Champion Hurdle crown at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Smith said: “I’d say Ronald Pump will head straight for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“I was thinking about the Boyne Hurdle (on Sunday 21st February) but really there is no point in going to Navan and maybe getting a hard race on heavy ground.

“It’s also getting that bit closer to Cheltenham, so it would be better to go straight there and he runs well fresh.

“He missed Leopardstown at Christmas with a stone bruise but it held him up a bit longer than we expected. He’s fine now and in good form.”

Ronald Pump was beaten two lengths into second in last year's Stayers' Hurdle by Lisnagar Oscar.