Sophocles Set For Hurdling Bow

Sophocles, runner-up to Cork All Star in the Championship Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, is due to make his hurdling debut at Naas this weekend.

James Leavy's four-year-old, a son of In The Wings, came close to pulling off a huge shock under Pauline Ryan at Prestbury Park.

He then ran in the Punchestown equivalent where he was over the top but Leavy has high hopes that he can reach the heights over timber, with the Fishery Lane Hurdle on Saturday a starting point.

'I would think that he has improved a good bit over the summer,' said Leavy.

'I wouldn't run him on tacky ground this season. Genuine good ground is fine for him and so is heavy ground but if it was holding he wouldn't run.

'I think he will prove himself to be a two-miler. I see he is in the betting for the longer novice race at Cheltenham (Ballymore Properties) but my intention is to run him in the Supreme Novices'.

'There is a lot of speed in the family and I think he has a lot of class.

'He had slightly gone over the top at Punchestown and we weren't overly disappointed.

'This year I have a loose arrangement with Ruby Walsh that if he is around he is going to ride him. Obviously he will have a lot of commitments with his retained stables but when he is around he is going to ride.

'I'm hoping Ruby will come to school him on Friday and we will make a decision then whether he runs on Saturday or not.'

Sophocles is 10-1 second-favourite with Cashmans for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle behind 8-1 jolly Cork All Star.

(C) PA Sport