Lesling Set For Break

John Quinn is to give Leslingtaylor a break before a possible tilt at the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, despite his disappointing showing at Haydock on Saturday.

The former useful Flat performer had won his first two starts over timber in impressive style but found the testing conditions at the Merseyside venue all against him at the weekend.

He trailed in a well-beaten sixth behind Nicky Henderson's impresive mare Amaretto Rose in the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle, but Quinn is putting the race to the back of his mind on account of the desperate ground.

'Leslingtaylor just couldn't get through the ground yesterday,' said Quinn.

'Fair play to Haydock for racing but come the Festival in March I would think that the form will go out of the window.

'Amaretto Rose looks a very good mare but when they are going a good clip on good ground at Cheltenham it will be very different.

'I knew as soon as Astarador jumped off in front at a good pace yesterday that my lad could be found out as it would be more like a two and a half mile race.

'He (Astarador) stayed on in the Tolworth and did the right thing. He exposed all of us except the winner.

'Our's has won on good to firm on the Flat though and he just couldn't get out of that ground. When Graham Lee knew it was over he just let him trot up. You won't be seeing him for a while now.

'He'll certianly have an entry in the Supreme though and you'll see him in a proper light on some decent ground. It wouldn't bother me if he didn't run again before Cheltenham though.

'It was disappointing yesterday but he had very valid reasons. Well done to connections of the winner but these Flat horses get beaten all the time on ground like that.'

Leslingtaylor is a 25-1 chance for Festival glory in March with Bet365.

(C) PA Sport