Super Sub Firmly On Course

John Carr is "very, very happy" with Sublimity as the countdown begins to the defence of his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle crown.

The former Sir Michael Stoute-trained eight-year-old will have his final serious piece of work on Sunday after racing at Leopardstown, just as he did 12 months ago.

But last year he was approaching the race as an outsider, this time round only Sizing Europe is ahead of him in the betting.

"Everything is going fine with him, we´ve not had a problem," said Carr.

"He goes to Leopardstown on Sunday after racing for a racecourse gallop and then he´ll have a little blow out on the Friday before we travel over with him on the Saturday.

"We´re very, very happy with him.

"We did exactly the same last year and we are trying to stick as close to that as possible.

"We´ve had a little bit of a problem this morning though in that Robert (Hennessy, owner´s son) had a very bad fall here and he´s had to go off to hospital with a back injury.

"He rides Sublimity in all his fast work so that´s not ideal, hopefully he´ll be all right.

"I´m not sure who´ll ride him on Sunday as Philip (Carberry) rides in France most Sundays."

(C) PA Sport