Cowboy on course for Punchestown

Rhinestone Cowboy was today confirmed a definite starter at next week´s Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown although the star hurdler´s rider, amateur J P Magnier, said that a final decision had still to be taken on which race the horse would contest.

The Jonjo O´Neill-trained eight-year-old most recently beat Rooster Booster to take the Grade 1 Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle at Liverpool and could reoppose that rival as well as taking on Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace in the EUR160,000 Grade 1 Emo Oil Champion Hurdle over two miles on Friday, April 30.

But he could instead line up in the previous day´s EUR125,000 Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers´ Hurdle over three miles, in which stablemate Iris´s Gift is an expected starter.

'Rhinestone Cowboy is definitely going to Punchestown,' said Magnier. 'Although it hasn´t yet been finalised which race he will go for, we´ve got to wait and see on a few things.

'But he´s apparently very well at home after Aintree and all set to go on to Punchestown. I´ve not ridden a winner there before and can´t wait to ride him. '

The Irish-bred Rhinestone Cowboy has won nine of his 13 starts but has not raced in Ireland to date.

The four-day Irish National Hunt Festival features record prize money of over EUR 1.7 million and takes place from Tuesday, April 27, to Friday, April 30.

The going is currently Soft after 10 millimetres of rain at the weekend. Richie Galway, Punchestown´s Racing Manager, said: 'We have had 60 millimetres of rain so far in April and the weather is set to remain unsettled during this week with showers each day up to and including Thursday. But more settled conditions with warmer temperatures are forecast towards the weekend.'