Bob Olinger to miss Ascot as Henry de Bromhead juggles Christmas targets

Bob Olinger will bypass a trip to Ascot for the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices' Chase on Friday as Henry de Bromhead weighs up his options for the top-notch talent's next start.

No firm decision has been made on whether last season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner will line up at Leopardstown or Limerick this Christmas, but he is entered for a trio of Grade 1 events from 2m1f to three miles.

Owner Robcour's star performer heads the market for the 2m3½f BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on December 26, priced up 4-7 with the race sponsors, while he is a 5-1 chance for the 2m1f Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on the same day.

Bob Olinger: no bigger than 2-1 to win the Turners Novices' Chase at CheltenhamCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Layers have yet to price up the three-mile Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 29, which arguably could be considered his least likely option.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, De Bromhead told the Racing Post: "He's not going to Ascot. We're delighted with him and all is good."

On where Bob Olinger could be seen next, De Bromhead said: "He has a few entries at Christmas. We're weighing it all up at the moment, so we'll see closer to the time."

Exciting De Bromhead-trained youngster Journey With Me, also owned by Robcour, could make his eagerly anticipated hurdles bow in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Navan on Saturday provided conditions are soft enough.

"It's possible he could start off there as long as the ground is okay for him," said the leading trainer. "He likes a nice ease in the ground."

Cape Gentleman: talented dual-purpose performer won 2020 Paddy Power Irish CesarewitchCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

In potential opposition to Bob Olinger, Emmet Mullins may challenge for a poignant first Grade 1 success at Limerick with classy novice chaser Cape Gentleman.

Sent off the 7-2 joint-second favourite for the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase, the talented dual-purpose performer held every chance when coming down at the fourth-last at Fairyhouse last month.

Alhough also entered at the highest level over three miles at Leopardstown on December 29, Mullins is considering a tilt at the BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase.

Having partnered Faugheen to victory in the star's first Graded race at Limerick's Christmas meeting in 2013, it would be a fitting event for the former Cheltenham Festival-winning rider to break his Grade 1 duck as a trainer.

He also partnered Sir Des Champs (2011) and The Paparrazi Kid (2013) to victory in the same event.

"Thankfully, Cape Gentleman is none the worse for his fall, so we'll live to fight another day," said Mullins.

"There doesn't seem to be any rain due between now and Christmas, so it looks like Limerick won't be as testing as usual for Christmas. It's definitely an option for him."

Paddy Power Plate winner The Shunter has been absent since finishing a solid fourth in the Galway Plate, but Mullins is fully expecting him to be back in time for the major spring festivals.

"He's on the sidelines for a little bit but is back riding out now," said Mullins.

"He won't run over Christmas but hopefully we'll have him out again in the new year. It wasn't a serious thing, he just missed a couple of weeks in terms of riding out."

The Shunter: bought by JP McManus after landing the Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Noble Yeats, who was prominent in the ante-post market for last weekend's Racing Post Gold Cup but did not feature in the final field due to unsuitably dry ground at declaration time, could also form part of Mullins' Christmas team.

Mullins said: "The Paddy Power at Leopardstown [December 27] is an option and he'll probably get an entry for the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick [December 28] too if the ground was looking too quick for him at Leopardstown."

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