Sheehy Has Faith In Justified Stamina

Dusty Sheehy is convinced that Justified stays three miles, despite his reversal behind Taranis at the weekend.

With confirmed front-runner The Listener departing early, the small field for the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal went no gallop, meaning Paul Carberry struggled to get Justified to settle.

As a result, Sheehy is not reading too much in to the race and has nominated the Clonmel Oil Chase on November 15 as his next target.

'He's perfect, 100%,' said Sheehy.

'It was a false race and there was no pace on which meant he didn't settle. I think he stays the three miles all right but I don't think you can read much in to it with the way it panned out.

'Our lad had to go very wide so that he wasn't in front. We didn't learn a lot from it.

'I wouldn't be afraid to try him over three miles again. Ruby Walsh is as good as any jockey riding. He's ridden him before and he is adamant that he stays.

'We might look at something like the Lexus but his next run will probably be over two and a half miles.

'The Clonmel Oil or the John Durkan are possibles, it's looking like the Clonmel Oil as that will give us plenty of time to prepare him for one of the big pots at Christmas.

'He's very adaptable with regard to the ground so that doesn't matter too much.'

(C) PA Sport