Much to look forward to for Sweeney Trainer Jonathan Sweeney is excited to see what his Punchestown bumper winner Lighthouse Warrier can achieve over hurdles this season. The seven-year-old son of Milan made a big impression when winning his sole point-to-point start at Athlacca in May of last year and filled the runner-up spot on his bumper and Rules debut at Punchestown after a year on the sidelines. He went one better with a dominant display at the same venue a couple of weeks later and Sweeney expects his charge to make his mark as a novice hurdler this winter. He said: "Lighthouse Warrier is very good, he had a nice break over the summer. "He is back in now and has done a few bits of work and we are very happy with him. "He will go over hurdles now and I think he will win a maiden. "I'd say we will have him out in a month to six weeks. "He is a big horse so we will run him at one of the bigger tracks." Lighthouse Warrier spearheads a team of "around 10 to 12" the Kildinan-based trainer has in his care this season, although Minutestomidnight has moved on after being sold for 200,000 euros the day after winning a Grade Three bumper at Punchestown. "Minutestomidnight has gone over to Nick Gifford in England. David Dunsdon bought her," Sweeney added. "Champagne Pat won a juvenile hurdle for us last year and he will run on Thursday at Punchestown. "He disappointed us after he won. He is a tricky horse and always shows us a lot more than what he does. "He is in good order anyway, but should improve a lot for a run. He'll stay over hurdles this season and might have a run on the Flat. "I've some nice youngsters that will go the point-to-point route. I have a nice Beneficial horse who is a brother to bumper winner Anytime Now, while I have a Gold Well filly who is a half-sister to Cheltenian."
