Plinth (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Plinth are looking for a better round of jumping than he produced on his debut when he tackles the Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown today.
A rare runner over jumps these days for Flat king Aidan O'Brien, Plinth made a successful hurdling debut over this course and distance in late December despite blundering at the final flight.
The Montjeu gelding rallied on the level to deny Ivan Grozny who has since got off the mark at Naas, and meets Willie Mullins' charge again in a race promising real Triumph Hurdle clues.
"He overcame a mistake at the last to win the last day and Aidan's happy with him. Willie's horse will be hard to beat again," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
"He'll probably jump better this time and we're hoping for a good run."
McManus has a second string in the Charles O'Brien-trained Henry Higgins who was third behind Guitar Pete on his jumps bow at Leopardstown and meets that rival again.
"He ran respectably the first day and should come on for the run, hopefully he might get in the money," said Berry.
Ruby Walsh is wary about the prospect of testing conditions for Ivan Grozny, and told the Irish Examiner: "Aidan O'Brien's Plinth beat us a head at Leopardstown at Christmas and, realistically, you would think they are the big two again.
"Ivan Grozny went on to score by 12 lengths at Naas and I was impressed, although mindful of the fact the form hasn't been working out. My worry with this fellow is that he has a lot of speed and have no doubt he will be far better when meeting good ground.
"I'd say he has continued to improve, however, but I'm sure Plinth will have come on plenty as well for his first run over flights."
