Walsh looking forward to Samcro & Next clash Ruby Walsh would relish a clash between Next Destination and Samcro in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The Willie Mullins-trained Next Destination and Gordon Elliott's potential superstar Samcro were due to lock horns in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle last Sunday, but Samcro was ruled out during the week following an unsatisfactory scope. In Samcro's absence, Next Destination extended his unbeaten record over hurdles to three in the Grade One contest and is now a best-priced 8-1 for the Ballymore behind 9-4 favourite Samcro. Walsh told Racing UK: "Sunday's Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle was a messy sort of race. They didn't go much of a gallop over the first couple of hurdles, but Next Destination jumped super. "With races where they go slow early, they can build up a long way out and he was committed to the race a long way from home but kept going really well. "It's onwards and upwards. Willie was suggesting the Ballymore would be a more likely target for him and he's done nothing wrong. "We haven't seen Samcro, who had been pencilled in to run, since November. He was the one on paper to beat and is due to run in Leopardstown in a couple of weeks time. "It'll be interesting, as Next Destination has improved with every run."
