Mikael still sidelined but Vinny reappears on Sunday Mikael D'Haguenet is unlikely to be out in the near future as trainer Willie Mullins struggles to get last season's star novice hurdler back to action following a splint problem. Unbeaten in six outings for the champion trainer last term including three times at Grade 1 level, the French-bred six-year-old has yet to see a racecourse this season. "There are still no plans for Mikael and he won't be running within the next fortnight I wouldn't have thought," said Mullins. On a brighter note, Cousin Vinny is likely to continue his education over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. "He's in good form and has just worked this morning. We were thinking about going straight to the Irish Arkle with him but he seems well and he'll probably run at the weekend instead." The feature of that Fairyhouse card is the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase, and Mullins currently has Golden Silver, Scotsirish and Snowy Morning entered but has yet to finalise running plans. The Co. Carlow trainer also had news on smart chaser Barker, who has been off the track since unseating his rider in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. "Barker had a few easy weeks after Punchestown as we found he had suffered a stress fracture. There are no targets for him at the moment as we just want to get him back to full fitness."
