Leopardstown next up for Little King Robin Little King Robin will race back against her own sex at Leopardstown over the Festive period after finishing an honourable third in Sunday's Morgiana Hurdle. Having clinched her seventh victory of 2014 in last month's WKD Hurdle at Down Royal, the six-year-old tested her powers at the highest level at Punchestown against reigning Champion Hurdle hero Jezki and the brilliant Hurricane Fly. Hurricane Fly bounced back to his best to claim an astonishing 20th Grade One victory, fighting off Jezki in a thrilling finish, while Little King Robin eventually faded having adopted her customary front-running role. Trainer Colin Bowe is rightly proud of his stable star's efforts. He said: "She didn't leave a nut last night and she's absolutely fine this morning. She's good and she's fresh and we're delighted with her. "The ground was probably as soft as she'd want it, but we're not making excuses. I'd say she ran right up to her mark and we'd have taken third on Sunday morning. "Barry (O'Neill) didn't hit her and was easy on her late in the race. "She won't do anything now for two or two and a half weeks and then we'll get her ready for the mares' race at Leopardstown at Christmas. "You don't qualify if you've won a Grade One, so we'll avoid the likes of Annie Power and Glens Melody, which is good." Little King Robin's major aim for the season remains the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, where a clash with the Willie Mullins-trained Annie Power would appear increasingly likely. "I was hoping Willie would go and jump a fence with her (Annie Power), but she stays over hurdles and we'll have to see what happens," said Bowe. "Cheltenham is still the number one target, but it's a long time between now and March."
