Morris priming War of Attrition for crack at Grand National
Tuesday December 08 2009
Mouse Morris is planning to give War Of Attrition a run over hurdles with a view to a tilt at next year's Aintree Grand National.
The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner travelled strongly for a long way in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month, but weakened from the halfway stage to finish 11th of the 18 runners.
Morris admits his charge is not the force of old, but says he could not be happier with the 10-year-old's current condition.
"He's in great fettle at the moment and I think the National would be his long-term target," said Morris. "He travelled well for a long way at Newbury but he is just getting a bit like myself now; age is catching up with him!
"I would think he'll run over hurdles around Christmas time and after that we might look at something like the Thyestes Chase. This will be his last year and as he is in good fettle at the moment, why not keep him going?"
rivalry
Meanwhile, In Compliance could renew his rivalry with Joncol in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
The nine-year-old spent almost two years on the sidelines before joining Dessie Hughes at the start of the season but came back with a bang when winning a Listed prize at Thurles.
Having travelled like the winner for a long way in Sunday's John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, he had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Joncol; but Hughes feels his charge will appreciate a sounder surface.
"I was a bit disappointed he didn't finish better after the way he travelled," said Hughes.
"He's come out of it fine and we'll look at the Lexus now and hope they get a bit better ground."
Hughes will let Lenabane tackle Grade One company for the first time in the Knight Frank Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. The seven-year-old, a half-brother to iconic two-miler Moscow Flyer, opened his account over fences at the third attempt with a battling display at Punchestown on Sunday.
"It was a good performance to fight back in that ground as if they make a bad mistake when it's as heavy as that, they're usually finished," said Hughes.
Irish Independent
