Conor to cross the water early

Bryan Cooper and Bog Warrior. Picture: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE

Niall Cronin

TRAINER Dessie Hughes is keeping to the same plan as much as possible with Our Conor, who is one of the major Champion Hurdle contenders for Cheltenham tomorrow week, and that includes the horse travelling over as soon as this Thursday.

The impressive Triumph Hurdle winner worked after racing at Leopardstown yesterday and delighted the trainer.

"That was nice, he travelled well and he had loads left," Hughes said.

"It wasn't a matter of trying him it was just to get the work into him."

Our Conor worked over a mile and a quarter under Danny Mullins and Hughes added: "We are bringing him early – he goes on Thursday – because he runs on Tuesday so he doesn't have to do an awful lot between now and then.

FRESHER

"Last year, he went on the Sunday but he wasn't running until the Friday and I'm trying to keep it the same as, every day he was over there last year, he seemed to get fresher and he enjoyed it."

Gold Cup runner Lyreen Legend also worked alongside Our Conor with Bryan Cooper aboard, and Hughes concluded: "I was very happy with him because he doesn't usually work that well most days, but he worked well today."

Cooper also sat on the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack, who is RSA bound.

Elliott said: "We worked a good few and I was happy with them all, including Don Cossack and Tiger Roll. I think the RSA will suit the horse and we'll drop in and take our time."

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