O'Brien ready to launch Articulum over fences Terence O’Brien is looking forward to seeing Articulum make his debut over fences at Punchestown on Sunday. The son of Definite Article has won a point-to-point, two bumpers and a maiden hurdle thus far. He was narrowly denied in a Listed novice hurdle at Navan in March and was last seen finishing a creditable seventh in a competitive handicap at the Punchestown Festival. With Articulum having had a wind operation during the off-season, O’Brien is hoping his charge can raise his game over the larger obstacles. He said: “I hope to run him in a beginners chase at Punchestown on Sunday. He had a wind-op since his last run, and Sunday will only be a finding-out mission as to how things are going with him. We are not really sure how he is. “His first run at Cork last season was very good and he was second in a Listed race at Navan, but in between he was disappointing — the wheels came off the wagon after Christmas really.” Why remains a mystery. O’Brien added: “I don’t know what happened with him — we never found out what the problem was. “We did a wind-op since and hope it might solve some problems with him. “You’d imagine he should be better over fences, but you’ll never know until you try. He is a big horse and is about 17 hands high, so you’d imagine fences should suit him.” Lakemilan has enjoyed a profitable summer campaign for the yard, landing a valuable handicap hurdle at Killarney as well as finishing second at Galway and Cork. The Milan mare is now set for a well-earned holiday. O’Brien added: “Lakemilan has gone home for a break. She was due to run in Fairyhouse over the weekend, but she picked up an injury when fifth at Down Royal on her last start. “She got an overreach the day she was second in Mallow (Cork), and we ran her back quick enough at Down Royal. She was just about ready to run, and then she got a cut there. “We thought we’d have her back in time for Fairyhouse but we missed out and we’ll leave her off now. We’ll bring her back for a late spring-summer campaign now. “She will continue to mix it. She is probably better over fences than she is over hurdles. “She jumps well, and I think there is a good pot in her over fences.” Assessing the rest of his string, O’Brien said: “I have a couple of point-to-pointers. I don’t have a whole lot for the track, to be honest. “I have a few young horses who I’m not really sure of yet. Unfortunately, it’s lean times, but the money goes were the results are — and you can’t really argue with that. “Aoibhe’s Beau won at Tramore and she picked up a cut when second at Galway on her last start. She will continue in handicaps. “Veneziano Springs will go to Tramore before Christmas, and I hope he will go close.”
