No prep run for Sublimity before Champion

Reigning champion hurdler Sublimity will go straight to Cheltenham next month without the aid of another run.

John Carr´s eight-year-old has only been seen once so far this season, when fourth behind Osana in the Boylesports.com International.

Although connections discussed the possibility of a run on the all-weather at Dundalk, Carr will send him to Prestbury Park without a prep-race.

"He´s not going to go anywhere, he´s going to go straight to Cheltenham," confirmed the County Kildare handler.

"We just thought it (another run) would have been a bit closer than ideal, and are going to keep taking him for gallops. He was at the Old Vic on the Curragh last Friday and we are hoping to go to Dundalk next week.

"The race is a month tomorrow and we will take him away four times beforehand. There will be a racecourse gallop in there somewhere as well. It´s all about Sizing Europe now, which suits us down to the ground because the pressure is off me.

"Before the race last year everybody was saying what a good Champion Hurdle it was with Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace, Detroit City and Straw Bear - there was no word of us.

"When they all got beaten it was a bad Champion Hurdle so I don´t really care what people write, you have to make up your own mind. Everything now has to go right every day for the next month, and hopefully we will all get there."

Sublimity is 5-1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes to retain the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.