Barnso (red cap)© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Natalia Lupini is preparing a pair of handicap runners for Irish Champions Festival, with Dunum and Barnso likely to both race at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Co Down-based Lupini's biggest success was gained at last year's same fixture with Kitty Rose's Ingabelle Stakes success and this year has Barnso entered for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap and Dunum for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap.
Regarding last year's Galway festival Ahonoora Handicap-winner Dunum, she says “he will go for the Sovereign Path again. He had a nice race in Galway this year (finishing third) and came out of it well.
"The Listed race the last day didn't really work out for us in Cork, but he will head for the same race Sovereign Path now. He likes the trip and the track we think is fine - seven furlongs around a bend, he seems to enjoy that. The bend keeps him interested. He seems in very good form."
Regarding Barnso, she adds “he was just beaten in a Listed race (third at Leopardstown) the last day and he's a nice, staying horse. He is still a three-year-old and is getting a bit of an allowance, but we think he is entitled to take his chance.
"Hopefully, he will run well and we think he is going to be a nice horse for next year as well for staying races."
Quotes from Michael Graham
