See also » Cullen--Loughran-on-the-mark-with-Dysios
I'm delighted with him. It was his first time over two-and-a-half so it was a bit of a fact finding mission,. It opens up more opportunities for us over fences as well. This year he's been in particularly good form with himself and he's been training very well. He's 119 over hurdles and ran a lovely race in Listowel the last day. Kieron (winning owner Kieron Gammell) is originally from Greystones so hopefully we can get back to Leopardstown. He's won there twice already and has been second this year so that's his Gold Cup. If we can get back there at Christmas in good shape it will be the icing on the cake. We'll do a bit of pot hunting with him. He has a bit of age on his side now. We stripped a bit of weight off him which is better for him as well. We'll mix it now. I was happier to go back hurdling this year after chasing. Sometimes if you mix it too much in their first season they are going down to hurdles and jumping them too big and deliberate. I wanted to get a season chasing before I went back mixing it over hurdles. I said I'd give him the season chasing and then we could mix and match. He could pop up in a couple of those conditions races. He's a big strong horse but I wouldn't like to be giving away a lot of weight in handicaps. All his best form has been on soft or heavy ground so he handles that ground. I'm delighted - it's not easy to get winners. Denis W Cullen, trainer

An extended handicap hurdle for four yrs old and upwards (130 = 11st 10lb)
Weights - Top weight in the original handicap; shall not be less than 11st 10lb
Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap to carry 6lb extra for each hurdle race won.