Bunk may reappear at spring Festivals Connections of Bunk Off Early remain at a loss to explain his abject display in last week's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. An impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, the Willie Mullins-trained grey then caught the eye when travelling powerfully through the Deloitte Novice Hurdle before being caught late by stable companion Bacardys. With a drop in distance and a sounder surface expected to suit, the five-year-old was a well-fancied 6-1 shot for the Festival curtain-raiser, but trailed home 12th of 14 runners. Steve Massey, racing manager for owners the Supreme Horse Racing Club, said: "Bunk Off Early ran a bit flat and we're not sure why. Nothing has come up since, so we're just putting a line through it. "He made a mistake three out, but I think he was already beaten at that stage and he just didn't fire on the day, which can happen at Cheltenham - it's a tough place. "He'll probably go to either Fairyhouse over Easter or the Punchestown Festival." Bunk Off Early was one of three Festival runners for the Supreme Horse Racing Club. Airlie Beach was similarly disappointing when defending an unbeaten record in the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle, but Kemboy performed with plenty of credit when fifth in the Neptune on just his third start over jumps. "We were delighted with Kemboy. He was a little bit novicey, but he was the least experienced horse in the race and he was the first Irish horse home," Massey added. "He'll probably go to Punchestown and we might even step him up to three miles."
