Charlie on Comeback Trail Charlie Lenihan, winner of his last seven starts, including a defeat of subsequent Cheltenham hero, Whyso Mayo in a Cork hunter chase, is not far off making a reappearance having been out of action since Askeaton in January 2007. His Mayo-trainer, Joe Reilly, has a choice of engagements for the Little Bighorn gelding, who is rising twelve. Down Royal for a hunter chase on St Stephens Day or an open at Dromahane on New Year's Eve are the options. Reilly said of the usually Brian Hassett-ridden prolific winner, which he also owns: "He did a suspensory ligament when schooling in Ballinrobe and that's what kept him off. He has scanned clear though and has been working well. "He'll go to the Curragh on Friday to do a bit of work under Derek (O'Connor) on the Old Vic and if the scans are good after that he'll probably go to Down Royal. I have a slight doubt in my mind that he might have lost a bit of his speed but we'll just wait and see. "He has been working with a Bob Back horse who is beating him over a mile and a half but then again that fellow is very fast." Eamonn Murphyy
