Festival options open as Bog Warrior takes next step

Bog Warrior: Switched to hurdles

Bog Warrior has an opportunity to pick up another decent prize over the small obstacles when he faces just four rivals in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

The Tony Martin-trained nine-year-old was won both his races since being switched to hurdles after falling in the Ladbrokes Chase at Down Royal in November.

He was a Grade One novice chase winner last winter, and showed he is also a smart performer over timber when beating the high-class Solwhit at Punchestown on his latest start.

Connections will assess his performance in this Grade Two event before deciding which direction to go for the rest of the season.

Bog Warrior holds entries in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown next month and in the Ryanair Chase, the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March.

"He runs tomorrow and we will see where we go after that," said Eddie O'Leary, racing manager to owners Gigginstown House Stud.

"This is a good opportunity and we will see how he goes before we make future plans."

Zaidpour won this race 12 months ago and his trainer Willie Mullins believes he has to run at least to that level if he is to repeat the feat."He's a course and distance winner. If he could reproduce the form that he did to win this race last year it would be a big help. However, Bog Warrior looks a formidable opponent," said Mullins.

Zaidpour still holds an entry in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

"Anything is a possibility with the weather. We are not taking anything for granted," he said.

Gordon Elliott accepts that his two runners, Chicago Grey and Un Beau Matin, have a stiff task.

"It's a small field and there's good prize money, but both of them look up against it," said Elliott.