Triumph the plan for Column

Personal Column is likely to bid for his third win over timber in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 14th.

The youngster showed real determination to see off compatriot and fellow Triumph hopeful Won In The Dark in Grade Two company at Leopardstown earlier in the month.

"All being well, the Triumph will probably be the plan and that´s what we´re heading for," said trainer Jessica Harrington.

"He´s also going to be put in the Fred Winter, but I think he´ll probably end up with a bit too much weight to run in that."

Long-term ante-post favourite Franchoek also featured among the 75 horses left in the Triumph at the forfeit stage.

While Harrington admits the Alan King-trained juvenile will take a bit of beating, she is still keen to head to Cheltenham with Personal Column.

"There´s always one good one in there," she continued.

"I was absolutely delighted with him last time and you´d hope he´d have a chance.

"I think as well, the great the thing with him is that he´d improve again from that.

"There should be a good bit of improvement in him."

There were no shocks among the 16 defectors as all the other major players, including Binocular, Celestial Halo and Ashkazar, stood their ground.