Woodbine bids to redeem reputation at Naas

Philip Fenton feels Woodbine Willie was not at his best when third behind Venalmar last time, and has outlined the paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle as his next port of call.

Having received treatment from a chiropractor after taking a close third in Grade Two company at Naas last month, the seven-year-old will attempt to regain the winning thread at the same track on Sunday week.

"When he ran a month ago at Naas he ran a good race but, for some reason we couldn´t put our finger on, he didn´t perform as well," said Fenton, whose charge had won twice over timber previously.

"We still don´t know why but for some reason he raced with his head carried on one side.

"We´ve had a chiropractor in and he seems to have rectified the problem but all being well, he´ll be an even better horse next season."

Fenton has yet to commit Woodbine Willie to making a Cheltenham Festival appearance, but says the Ballymore Properties Novices´ Hurdle is the most appealing of the three options available.

"I´m sure we´d run over two-miles-five at Cheltenham. He runs in the Johnstown Hurdle on the 24th of this month, which is at Naas over two and a half miles and we´ll see how he goes there."