Dedigout bids for more success in Boyne Tony Martin's dour stayer Dedigout bids to continue his excellent start to the year in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday. It is almost three years since the Gigginstown-owned nine-year-old struck gold in a Grade One novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and although he has suffered injury problems since, his talent seemingly remains intact. After predictably tiring on his first start for well over a year at Leopardstown over Christmas, Dedigout stepped up to edge out Monksland in a thrilling Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last month, and Martin hopes similarly testing conditions prevail this weekend. He said: "He did it well the last day and hopefully he'll give another good account of himself. The softer the ground the better for him, so any rain would be in his favour. "It's a good, competitive race, as you would expect. Everything in it would have a chance, so we'll see what happens." Dedigout is reopposed by the Willie Mullins-trained pair Zaidpour and Briar Hill, third and fourth respectively at Gowran a little over three weeks ago. The champion trainer also saddles Back In Focus, winner of the 2013 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but off the track since finishing down the field at Punchestown in April of that year. Pat Shanahan's King Of The Picts, the Michael Hourigan-trained The Job Is Right, Tom Mullins' dual Cheltenham Festival winner Alderwood and Gerdago from Ken Condon's yard complete an eight-runner field.
