Attrition Spearheads Strong Cheltenham Challenge From Ex Irish Point-To-Pointers

Trainer Mouse Morris today reported that 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition was back to the same form he was in a year ago ahead of his bid to land chasing's Blue Riband for a second time on March 16.

The eight-year-old will not be among the many Festival challengers galloping after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday (March 4) and Morris warned that his stable star would prefer the ground to not be too testing at Cheltenham.

'War Of Attrition looks to be in the same kind of form now that he was 12 months ago and I am very happy with his condition,' said Morris.

'The ground in Ireland this year has been a nightmare - it's been too heavy for him. Although he has run some good races on soft ground, he's nowhere near as good on it as on better ground. It's like chalk and cheese - he's a different horse on decent ground.

'Despite the ground not being in War Of Attrition's favour, it has not affected his preparation for Cheltenham. We use the all-weather gallops and a good grass gallop and have all the facilities at home to have him in top shape for the totesport Gold Cup. He won't be working at Leopardstown this weekend.'

War Of Attrition, the first horse bred by Co Cork-based Brid Murphy and a 15,000 euros graduate of Tattersalls Ireland's Derby Sale, became the seventh ex Irish point-to-pointer to score in the last nine runnings of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 months ago.

Morris believes that, even though the Presenting gelding failed to complete when coming down at the last in his only point-to-point at Horse and Jockey on March 9, 2003, Irish point-to-pointing is an ideal grounding for National Hunt prospects.

'War Of Attrition ran in one point-to-point, when he fell at the last. It's a far better preparation for jumping than bumpers. His jumping is very good now and that's what you need in the best races,' added the trainer.

'I'm not over confident going to Cheltenham - lightning doesn't strike twice too often, but we have a decent chance and we'll give it a shot. The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup and there would be plenty of dangers, but we'll worry about our fellow rather than the others.

'Fingers crossed everything has gone to plan so far and we'll just have to see what happens in two weeks' time.'

A string of ex Irish point-to-pointers will line up at Cheltenham including two horses regarded by many as Festival bankers, Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and Gungadu in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

The pair - jointly owned by Paul Barber - are trained by Paul Nicholls, who believes that Irish point-to-points offer an outstanding preparation for his stable stars.

'Horses get good experience in Irish point-to-points,' said Nicholls. 'Paul Barber buys a lot of his store horses from Tom Costello and leaves them with Liam Burke to run in Irish point-to-points and if they are any good they then come over for me to train.

'We just happened to be at an Irish point-to-point one day and Adrian Maguire said we should come and look at Denman. We did and we bought him - that was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

'Paul bought Gungadu and a number of young horses from Tom Costello. Gungadu went down that Irish point-to-point route with Liam Burke. I have got two point-to-pointers myself in training in Ireland at the moment and if they are good enough, I will sell them on to people.'

Paul Barber added: 'I like horses to pop around and win a point-to-point or two.

I buy them as three-year-olds and the experience they get helps them grow up.

'Of the horses I buy in Ireland, I bring some over to be trained by my brother and leave others to race in Irish point-to-points and Liam Burke has been training for me for 12 years. The best of them would be Gungadu.'

Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle contender Kazal, leading Weatherbys Champion Bumper fancy Mad Fish, 2006 Gold Cup third Forget The Past, Beef Or Salmon, Our Vic and Grand National joint-favourite Dun Doire are just a few of the other ex Irish point-to-pointers to have shone this season.