Joseph O'Brien biding his time with Landofhopeandglory
Joseph O'Brien is in no rush to finalise future plans for Triumph Hurdle favourite Landofhopeandglory.
The talented Flat performer stretched his unbeaten record over jumps to three in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday but having only made his hurdling debut a month ago, O'Brien is still considering whether to go to the well once more over the Festive period.
Landofhopeandglory further enhances his credentials by winning the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at @Fairyhouse: https://t.co/oS1ouFdNb1
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 4, 2016
He said: "He's now three from three over hurdles. He won nicely and came through the race pretty well.
"Barry (Geraghty) was happy with him and they sprinted down the last two up the straight which wouldn't have played to our horse's strengths but it was nice that he got away with it.
"There are still no decisions made about Christmas time. I haven't spoken to anyone yet, we'll see how he is during the week and that will be decided closer to the time.
"There's a long way to go between now and Cheltenham but this fellow seems to be on the right track and hopefully he'll continue to progress in each race."
Later on the same afternoon last season's Triumph Hurdle hero Ivanovich Gorbatov performed with credit when finishing fourth in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.
"Ivanovich Gorbatov travelled and jumped very well in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. Between the last two, you'd have thought he was in with a shout but he ran a great race all the same," O'Brien said in his Boylesports blog.
"We'll see what the ground is like everywhere over Christmas and I'd imagine we'll send him out.
"It was a great battle between Apples Jade and Vroum Vroum Mag. They're two great mares."
