McKiernan thinking of Dunguib clash

Whodoyouthink could be on course for a clash with Dunguib following a convincing victory at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

The lightly-raced five-year-old put his rivals to the sword in a maiden hurdle coming home 22 lengths clear of his closest pursuer, and connections now feel he has earned the right to be considered for the Deloitte Hurdle back at the Foxrock track on February 7.

"We were impressed with him and he's a horse for the future," said trainer Oliver McKiernan's assistant Adrian Keatley.

"It wasn't a surprise that he won, but it was a surprise in the fashion he won. When he was beaten early on in the season on heavy ground in Punchestown we thought we'd set out to go to Leopardstown at Christmas for a maiden hurdle and then maybe step him up."

"We are contemplating the Deloitte Hurdle and he is a course and distance winner, but if the ground was very heavy he might not run. He did a fair time and he deserves to take his chance in a race like that."

Keatley also had news of Grade 1-winning novice chaser Follow The Plan who is being prepared for a spring campaign.

The seven-year-old defeated Tatanen in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown's 2008 Christmas meeting before finishing third in the Arkle at Leopardstown and unplaced in the Cheltenham version.

"He is in training, and we are hoping to bring him out in the spring. He's been back in for a couple of months but he had a hard season last year," said Keatley.

"It kind of left its mark, but he's still young enough to make a good chaser so we are just giving him a bit more time. We've no specific race in mind at this stage, we'll just see how it goes."