Shark eyes return to Punchestown with Leader Western Leader will return to Punchestown later this month after delighting trainer Shark Hanlon with his comeback run there on Saturday. The eight-year-old had been off the track since breaking down badly at the Grand National meeting in April 2010 but Hanlon believes the fast action of the racecourse vets at Aintree saved Western Leader's life, let alone his career. Western Leader showed he could still be a force this season after finishing second to Mikael D'Haguenet at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. "It was a hell of a performance after so long off the track," said Hanlon. "We've got to thank the English vets. He could quite easily have been put down but we wanted to keep him, just as a pet if anything. "But they did a good job with him, they put a block under his hoof to take the pressure off and if it wasn't for that he wouldn't be here - 100% of the credit must go to them. "Thankfully it looks as if he retains all of his ability. He'd only done one bit of work with Hidden Cyclone but the fact he was able to work with him told me we could bring him back. "There's a winners-of-two race at Punchestown in three weeks he'll go for next because, despite him running so well in Graded races, he's only ever won twice over hurdles. "He's easy to keep fit, thankfully. He probably would have won the Grade 1 at Liverpool without coming off the bridle so we know how good he is."
