Cheltenham clues in Red Mills Trial

Faugheen may be bypassing the Red Mills Trial Hurdle, but Gowran patrons will still get the chance to see Champion Hurdle aspirants in action in the shape of Kitten Rock and Tiger Roll.

Those are not the only two in the five-horse affair that could be seen at Prestbury Park come March, as Abbyssial holds a Ladbrokes World Hurdle option and the four-year-old Thunder Zone is in the JCB Triumph Hurdle mix.

Edward O'Grady has mapped out a nice programme for the JP McManus-owned Kitten Rock, which has seen the French import take five of his seven races since arriving in Ireland.

Now back up to Grade Two company with a rating of 153, Mark Walsh's mount sets a decent standard for the others to aim at, in receipt of a couple of pounds from Abbyssial and Tiger Roll.

That fact has not been lost on Abbyssial's trainer Willie Mullins, whose son Patrick said: "It's going to be very hard to give Kitten Rock weight and race fitness. It's our fellow's first run of the season. He just got held up earlier on.

"It's a good starting point. It's a big local race for us and we like to support it. We're just hoping for a clear round and a good run, but it'll be very hard to beat Edward's horse.

"My father is a big believer in the horses for courses theory and this fellow did win his maiden at Gowran."

In the Florida Pearl ownership of Mrs Violet O'Leary, Abbyssial (Paul Townend) certainly is not to be underestimated, given that he took a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival, where Kitten Rock finished fourth.

Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott aim to put it up to Kitten Rock with last year's Triumph Hurdle hero Tiger Roll (Bryan Cooper) and the Davy Condon-partnered Thunder Zone.

Blinkers are tried on Tiger Roll, who wore cheekpieces for the first time on his latest start, and the son of Authorized has a Ladbrokes World Hurdle entry, too.

"I hope there isn't too much rain for Tiger Roll, while the other horse will need it for the experience," said Gigginstown's Eddie O'Leary.