Cyclone needs rain to run

Impressive weekend winner ground dependant

Last updated: 25th January 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

hidden cyclone

Hidden Cyclone: Not a definite Festival starter

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Leopardstown winner Hidden Cyclone's Cheltenham bid depends on soft ground acording to his trainer "Shark" Hanlon.

The County Carlow handler sees his exciting six-year-old as a future Gold Cup candidate and as a result is not keen to rush him along.

If he does turn up at Prestbury Park it will be for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

"What we've said is that if there was a good cut in the ground we'd probably go to Cheltenham, but if there isn't, he won't," said Hanlon.

"I think he's a very good horse but he's still a big baby and I don't want to ruin him as I'm hoping down the line he's a Gold Cup horse.

"If we go we'll go for the Neptune. If we don't go to Cheltenham we'll go for the Michael Purcell at Thurles (February 24) which I won last year with Western Leader.

"He'll be let off after that, either way, and be brought back early season to go novice chasing.

"He'll definitely go chasing next year and we'll look to start in September."

Hidden Cyclone is as low as 12-1 for the Neptune with Paddy Power.