Grai Swerves Greatwood Assignment Galway Hurdle winner Cuan Na Grai will bypass an engagement in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday and instead take his chance in the Grade Two Anglo Irish Private Banking Novices' Hurdle on Friday.Paul Nolan's five-year-old created a huge impression in beating seasoned handicappers at the Galway Festival.His handler mentioned the Greatwood as a possible target but has decided to bypass the race he won in 2004 with Accordion Etoile.'He left for Cheltenham this morning and he runs on Friday in the novice race,' said Nolan.'We had a pretty difficult decision having entered him for both races but we just thought that with his handicap experience he might just have the edge over some of the others in the novice race.'The Greatwood Hurdle looks a very competitive race, I'm not saying the novice looks an easy race, far from it, it looks a superior novice race.'We are just hoping that he may have a few pounds in hand against a few of his rivals because of his experience ? but that remains to be seen. John Cullen will ride him.'(C) PA Sport
