Break for Castleshane

Castleshane is being given a well-deserved break by trainer Steve Gollings following his brave effort behind Like-A-Butterfly at Fairyhouse yesterday before being brought back for a spring campaign.

The English trainer has the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown in March earmarked for the four-year-old, who was only beaten eight lengths by Christy Roche`s highly-regarded winner after making most of the running.

'He is 100 per cent. We were absolutely delighted with his performance because the ground went against him. It was always on the cards with the forecast but we took our chance,' said Gollings today.

'And to be beaten eight lengths in that grade and to be just run out of third place by half-a-length we are delighted for him. It was a good run.'

Castleshane earned £1,650 for his efforts in the Grade 1 Boyle Bookmakers Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

'There are not many races £55,000 novice hurdle races with five or six runners and because we were running out ofground it was like a last-ditched effort before we rested him,' Gollings pointed out.

'The plan will now be will be to rest him as we have run out of ground in England - he`s a good ground horse really.

'We`ll give him an easy few weeks and then aim at the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March.'

However, Castleshane is incurring problems returning home.

'He arrived at the ferry terminal this morning from Fairyhouse and they wouldn`t let him cross - it`s too rough - so he`s actually gone back to Fairyhouse again,' explained the trainer.

'There`s a ferry tonight and hopefully the weather will ease a little and we can get him home,' he added.