Dunvegan© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Dunvegan are hopeful of rain arriving in the coming weeks as the exciting novice hurdler is likely to bypass another engagement at Clonmel on Thursday due to unsuitably fast ground conditions.
Trainer Pat Fahy holds the dual bumper winner and easy maiden hurdle victor in high regard and having beaten two subsequent winners easily at Fairyhouse on December 15, Fahy had intended running the galloping grey in the Lawlors Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naason Sunday before quicker than ideal ground ruled him out.
Dunvegan is entered for Clonmel on Thursday but won't run, as Fahy says “I don't think he will run (at Clonmel) because it is drying out all the time and there is very little chance of rain.
“I walked Naas last Thursday evening and between then and Sunday there was no rain so it was the right thing to do to not run him.
“I'd have no problem going to a Grade 1 race next as he was going to run in that Naas race, which would have been an ideal race to find out where he stood. He'll go to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival for the Grade 1 staying novice but only if the rains arrives
“It is too early in his career to chance it and he is a big horse whose chances of getting an injury increase on fast ground.
“The form of his maiden hurdle win has worked out very well and his bumper win at Punchestown he had a lot of quality horses behind him.
“There is chance he could be the real thing and his future is over fences and it's not worth risking him.
in mid-December.
“I have the men that can wait so we will bide out time.”
Casting him mind back some years, he added “I remember back to a time when it was also good to firm at Limerick over Christmas and for the Thyestes Chase. I ran Dun Belle against Dorans Pride and See More Business at Leopardstown and she had won three or four of her previous races but got injured in that race and didn't run again for a year.
“It can't stay fine forever.”
