Griffin to play patient game with Azorian ambitions

The Co Kilkenny trainer will wait a while before considering the next move for the point-to-point-winning gelding, owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, but he will not go hurdling until next season.

"We rate him highly in the yard but going for a Leopardstown bumper you can never be overly confident," said Griffin.

"We'll let the dust settle for a bit. He's had a hard month.

"He definitely won't go over hurdles this term. We'll keep him as a novice for next year, but whether he will run in a winners' bumper or not I'm not quite sure yet.

"There's a possibility he may go to Punchestown, but we are going to take it one step at a time.

"I wouldn't be overly upset if that was it for this term. He's still a mentally immature horse.

"He has a lot of growing up to do. When he hit the front he was all at sea and didn't know what to do. He was very green and has a lot of maturing to do and is still a big baby. Hopefully he will be a nice horse for the future."