Samcro could take on his elders in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle to aid Gordon Elliott title bid
Gigginstown House Stud are likely to be well represented at Punchestown next week and Michael O'Leary has left the door open so Samcro to potentially take on the big boys in the BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
GORDON ELLIOTT'S title battle with Willie Mullins could see Samcro take on his elders in the BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday week.
That is the view of Gigginstown House Stud boss Michael O'Leary, who left the option open when asked after the exciting, unbeaten six-year-old.
Samcro has four entries at Punchestown but O'Leary has narrowed it down to either the Champion Hurdle or the two-and-a-half-mile Profile Systems Champion Novice Hurdle on the same day.
A final decision will be made depending on the state of Elliott's Irish jumps trainers championship bid.
"Generally speaking, we would want to keep the novices in the novice races," O'Leary told At The Races.
"He'll certainly run on the Friday. Unless Gordon is in real trouble on prize-money or something, I'd be reluctant to run him against the hardy, experienced hurdlers.
"He's still reasonably inexperienced and a lot will depend on the ground, too.
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"I'd lean in favour of the novice - I think that's the race for him - but I wouldn't rule out having a pop at the Champion if Buveur D'Air doesn't show up and Gordon needs the help."
O'Leary's Gigginstown Operation are likely to be well represented across the Punchestown meeting, with Noel Meade's Road To Respect and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Balko Des Flos pencilled in to run in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, although Meade's Disko remains absent.
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O'Leary added: "Sadly Disko won't make it. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with him, he's just had a series of niggles all year long, so we'll pull stumps with him now and give him a good break."
The leading owner also confirmed Identity Thief will attempt to back up last Saturday's victory in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown 12 days later.
O'Leary added that Apple's Jade is likely to defend her crown in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday week.