McGuinness eyeing Handicap targets at Irish Champions Festival Ado McGuinness is targeting a number of the Premier Handicaps with his team at the upcoming Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the Curragh on September 13 and 14. Go Athletico has won twice at the Curragh including the valuable Scurry Handicap on his penultimate start and the seven-year-old gelding will return there next month after finishing in mid-division last time in the Ahonoora Handicap at Galway. “He goes for the Bold Lad and we’re praying for a drop of rain,” said the Lusk trainer. “We went to Galway with him which was probably a bit of a mistake. He didn’t run too bad, but I don’t think he saw out the seven. “Fingers crossed he’ll run a big race. I think he’s still well handicapped. “He’ll go for a gallop around Leopardstown on Wednesday along with a few horses including Tribal Star. “Tribal Star will probably go for the mile and five (Petingo Handicap) in Leopardstown.” Tribal Star landed the Red God Handicap over an extended ten furlongs at Dundalk last time and is also proven over longer trips having finished a creditable fourth behind Spirit Mixer in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
