Michael O'Leary has plenty to ponder but will do his own thing

Trying to tell Michael O’Leary what he should do with his horses or with anything else for that matter is usually a complete waste of time. Call it singlemindedness or plain stubborn but O’Leary does his own thing and ignores everyone bar his closest associates.

Nonetheless, last weekend the Gigginstown boss wasn’t short of receiving advice and suggestions about what he should do with two of his high-profile horses: Samcro, who was blown away by Buveur D’Air in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, and Apple’s Jade, who trounced her rivals by 20 lengths when winning the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for the third year in a row.

Having never regarded Samcro as an obvious Champion Hurdle horse, this corner certainly wasn’t surprised by the Fighting Fifth result and based on that evidence it would be difficult to make a case for a form reversal at Cheltenham.