Punchestown Thursday return for Lieutenant Trainer Mouse Morris has warned stable star First Lieutenant will need the run in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Chase at Punchestown on Thursday. The eight-year-old danced every dance last season, finishing placed in four Grade Ones and in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. He also claimed a deserved success at the top level in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree in April. Morris said: "He's well in himself but he's a bit behind where I'd want him to be. The gallops at home have been too quick and I've not got as much work into him as I would have liked, but that will be the same for everybody, I imagine. "In any case, he'll only run if the ground is safe. It's been raining there so I hope it gets into the ground quick enough. "This is a nice place to start him back. He's favoured at the weights so I hope we can run him, but I don't want to ruin him on his first run back. "After this we'll look at the Charlie Hall (Wetherby) or the James Nicholson (JNwine.com) Chase at Down Royal, with the Nicholson more likely, but it depends on the ground which is why we'll give ourselves the Wetherby option. "It's easy to find races for him after that - they pick themselves for the good horses." First Lieutenant is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, who are also responsible for Roi Du Mee, who is bidding for a hat-trick in this race, Tofino Bay and Toner D'Oudairies.
