While we’ve had a lot of success taking horses to Punchestown over the years, this will be my first ever visit to Leopardstown, but I’m not daunted by the prospect at all. It’s just a horse race at the end of the day, albeit a pretty important one, and we’re confident he’ll run well.
He’s been in great nick since winning at Cheltenham and he’s always been right at the top of the pecking order of our juveniles in the yard, but we’re taking on the best of the Irish, so it’s probably going to be hard work.
I was pleased to see Rock My Way, who Weveallbeencaught beat last time at Cheltenham, frank the form since. That’s a nice confidence booster and I’m looking forward to seeing how he stacks up in this grade. I don’t feel under any pressure for him to deliver, I know he’s a good horse, and now it’s just about finding out quite how good he is. We know that stamina is his forte, he’s a real three-miler, so 2m6f will be absolutely fine.
This is his Cheltenham really. We know that this race, with all the travel involved, could take a fair bit out of him, and while I’m not saying he couldn’t do both, he’s just a six-year-old having his third start over hurdles and he’s got a big future.
Cheltenham is five weeks on Tuesday, so if he runs well and copes with it all then hopefully he could do both, but it will be hard work.
Willie [Mullins] and Gordon [Elliott] have both got fancied runners in there, and Barry Connell’s Good Land looks to be favourite, so, as you’d expect, the opposition looks strong, but I’m just focussed on our lad.