Lion Na Bearnai may take on Sir Des Champs at the Punchestown festival
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)National winner Lion could go to Punchestown
TRAINER Tom Gibney has not ruled out the possibility of Ladbrokes Irish Grand National hero Lion Na Bearnai running at the Punchestown festival.
The shock 33-1 winner got a clean bill of health after Monday's victory at Fairyhouse and Gibney was quick to stress that the ten-year-old could run again this term.
He said: "He was a bit stiff, but he usually is after a race and he licked the pot clean. Fairyhouse was the plan for him and because of that he's had a relatively light season so we're not ruling out Punchestown at all. We'll see how he is later in the week."
Lion Na Bearnai holds an entry in the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase, in which he could clash with 6-1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Sir Des Champs, but Gibney stressed he would not nominate a target at this stage.
The rapidly-improving Vast Consumption could also head to Punchestown after winning the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.
Her trainer Willie Mullins said: "We'll probably go to Punchestown but the Galway Hurdle is in the back of my mind."
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