High Hopes For Lounaos

Eoin Griffin hopes Lounaos can become just the fourth filly to win a JCB Triumph Hurdle when she tackles 23 rivals at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Having won the November Handicap at Leopardstown, the youngster had no problem in landing her first two starts over timber.

Although she lost her unbeaten record in the AIG Champion Hurdle in January, a fourth-placed finish behind Hardy Eustace underlined her credentials for what is always one of the most competitive heats of the Festival.

'We ran her in the AIG primarily to get her a little more experience at the highest level as she had won her first two juvenile hurdles easily,' Griffin said.

'There will be plenty of hustle and bustle in the Triumph so we decided to throw her in at the deep end.

'I am happy with her preparation. It is going to be a difficult race but hopefully she'll be good enough.'

Despite holding his filly in high regard, Griffin feels both Katchit and fellow Irish raider Duty will provide a stern test.

'Katchit seems to battle all the way to the line and you don't know where the bottom of him is ? he seems to always pull out more,' he said.

'Duty is another one that has come on the scene in the last month or so. He has done it from the front, seems to stay, is on the up and is one to look at.'

Duty is seeking a hat-trick in the two-mile championship after scoring impressively on his last two visits to the racecourse.

Despite winning on summer ground on the Flat, trainer Kevin O'Brien admits he is unsure what to expect on drying ground over hurdles but is very happy with Duty's condition.

'It's been so far so good with him. We've had no hiccups, he's travelled over well and he seemed well in himself this morning,' O'Brien said.

'I would be concerned about the drying ground. He has won on good to firm and been placed on it on the Flat before I got him, but we wouldn't know how he'd jump on it.

'But I suppose it's the same for a few others ? we're here and we'll take our chance.

'I suppose Lounaos would be the one we've all got to beat, but she hasn't run over hurdles on quicker ground, either.

'It's an open race and you need a lot of luck in running to win a Triumph, but I'm happy with my horse.'

Noel Meade's team were left with long faces after the eclipse of Aran Concerto yesterday, but a prominent showing from Alqaab would go some way to improving the mood.

The Silver Hawk gelding proved too smart for all-weather sensation Areyoutalkingtome on the Flat when with Marcus Tregoning, and duly got off the mark over timber with a 28-length romp earlier in the month.

'He ran very well first time on very heavy ground in Fairyhouse when he was beaten by Convincing and then had a bit of a foot problem after that,' said County Meath trainer Meade.

'It held him up a bit and when he ran next time he just wasn't ready and got very tired behind Duty in heavy ground.

'Then he ran in a pretty moderate maiden hurdle, which he won very easily, and he's come on again from that and should improve,' Meade told Racing UK.

'I wouldn't know how he would handle the better ground but Denis (O'Regan) is going to ride him and he's always thought he'd be better on it, so we're hopeful.'

(C) PA Sport