Aintree or Punchestown next up for Lyreen Lyreen Legend will try to gain swift compensation following his good effort in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. The seven-year-old had every chance until a mistake at the second-last put paid to his hopes and he weakened into sixth place behind Lord Windermere. Trainer Dessie Hughes feels Lyreen Legend, who had finished second behind the winner in last year's RSA Chase, deserves a crack at another top prize this spring. He could go for either the Betfred Bowl at Aintree on April 3rd or the Punchestown Gold Cup on April 30th. "We were pleased with him. He hit the second-last and Paul (Carberry, jockey) said it took the wind out of him," said Hughes. "Otherwise it had to be a good run as he's only a seven-year-old. He'll probably go to Punchestown or to Aintree. It will be one or the other." Guitar Pete, third to Tiger Roll in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, could go for the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown, while Hughes has not decided about plans for Apache Jack, who took minor honours in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. "Both of them ran very well," said the Co Kildare handler. "Apache Jack I'm not sure about, but Guitar Pete will definitely go to Punchestown for the four-year-old hurdle and I guess the winner will probably go there as well. Guitar Pete's been very good."
