Golantilla set for Naas test One-time Cheltenham Festival 'regular' Golantilla won't be at the English venue next week but instead holds leading claims in the Listed Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday. The Barry Connell-owned and Tony Martin-trained gelding is one of the few horses to have competed in two Cheltenham Bumpers and while he finished a credible third in 2013, he was only 11th in last year's renewal. Golantilla faces eight rivals on just his third hurdle starts and Martin said: "He seems in good form and I was happy with him when he was third in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas. After that we decided that we'd wait for a bit of drier ground and the drying ground should suit. "He has finished third in a Cheltenham Bumper and has done nothing wrong and has finished first and third in his only two hurdle runs so you'd have to be happy with that and if he finished in the first three on Sunday, I'd happy with him again." A Grade One-placed effort would normally have opponents running for cover but Golantilla did finish last of the completed trio in that Leopardstown race and JP McManus and Gigginstown, owners of four of the main dangers, will be hopeful of beating Golantilla. McManus runs Henry Higgins, who understandably failed to beat Cheltenham-bound Kitten Rock and Douvan on his latest starts, while of the Gigginstown trio, retained jockey Bryan Cooper has picked the Henry De Bromhead-trained Identity Thief. By Tom Weekes
