Fahy has ground concerns for Deck

Pat Fahy feels Stack The Deck is capable of making his presence felt in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next week.

A close-up fourth on his Punchestown debut in mid-November, the five-year-old son of Beneficial got off the mark at the second time of asking with a wide-margin victory at Limerick on St Stephen's Day.

He was no match for Champion Bumper favourite Black Hercules at Gowran in January, beaten 11 lengths into third, but Fahy feels his charge is capable of closing the gap on a sounder surface.

"If the ground is heavy, he won't be going to Cheltenham, but if the ground keeps drying we'll probably let him take his chance," said the Co Carlow-based trainer.

"On different ground I think he could get a bit closer (to Black Hercules). He just couldn't go on the ground in Gowran.

"We sort of knew beforehand he might struggle on it and he ran as we thought he would. He just couldn't quicken up like he can."

Stack The Deck is one of four Festival entries for Fahy, with leading RSA Chase contender Morning Assembly heading the team.

Western Boy is an intriguing outsider for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the final entry is Thelobstercatcher, but he like looks highly unlikely to get a run in the Kim Muir.

"It doesn't look like he's going to get in, so we're not even thinking about it," said Fahy.