Lungo Ponders Rasharrow Plan

Trainer Len Lungo has still not ruled out a tilt at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with promising novice Rasharrow at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

But his smart handicapper Brooklyn Breeze will miss the four-day extravaganza after meeting with a setback.

The seven-year-old Rasharrow has won four of his six career starts and finished third, only a length behind Missed That, in last year’s Champion Bumper at the Festival.

He has failed to set the world alight over timber so far but ran a promising race against older horses in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown on ground that would have been far softer than ideal, and Lungo has been pleased with his preparation.

“We are happy with how he is going,” he said

“We took him away eight days ago for a gallop before the freeze and he did a nice bit of work over two miles. He went steady for the first mile and a half and then quickened up for the last four furlongs.

“It then froze solid up here but he is a clean-winded horse and we have had him cantering on the all-weather.

“He’s also done a nice bit of work with Freetown today and he’s done the same, quickening up in the last half-mile.

“We are happy with him and it’s just a matter of keeping safe. I’m just not sure yet if he’s a 100% certain for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It is his most likely race but he also has a little entry in the Champion and I need to discuss it with the owners.

“We are just hoping the rain stays away because it won’t help his chances. He is much better on good ground.”

Brooklyn Breeze will not run in the Racing Post Plate, a race in which he was fourth last year when the race was run as the Mildmay Of Flete.

“Brooklyn Breeze has met with a setback and is definitely out of Cheltenham,” continued Lungo.

“We had the vet take a look at him yesterday. He’s picked up a small knock and he will probably miss the rest of the season. By the time I get him right we will have passed the Scottish National meeting at Ayr. It’s very disappointing but that’s racing.”

? PA Sport