O'Neill Has Mountain To Climb

Jonjo O'Neill captured Sunday's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle two years ago with Lingo and unleashes an equally interesting runner this time around with Mountain.

Formerly in the care of Aidan O'Brien, he actually split the first and second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ? Dylan Thomas and Youmzain ? at Leopardstown 18 months ago.

Mountain has not done quite so much over hurdles, winning on his first outing before being pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle.

However, he was found to have a breathing problem which has been rectified and the trainer has been notably bullish about him in recent weeks.

O'Neill was not quite so expansive as the valuable handicap approaches but said: 'He runs on Sunday and is in great form.

'The ground won't be a bother. As my friend Ron Barry used to say, it's not the going that's the problem, it's the coming back!'

A four-strong Irish team among a field of 22 includes Noel Meade's Orbit O'Gold.

'He has plenty of weight but I suppose all of them have really, all the fancied ones seem to be weighted together,' said Meade.

'He has to run in these good handicaps because he is up there in the ratings.

'He has been a bit unlucky in his last two runs to be honest with you. He was very unlucky in the November Handicap and the time before that when he got there too soon.

'He's in very good shape and if he gets a good run I'm sure he will give a very good account of himself.'

(C) PA Sport