Pertemps top-weight Ronald Pump set to take on Paisley Park in Stayers' Hurdle

Trainer Matthew Smith has opted against letting his hugely-improved Ronald Pump carry top weight in the Pertemps Final, instead setting his sights on a clash with Paisley Park in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle.

The progressive seven-year-old, who was rated 102 before winning five of his next six starts, qualified for the Pertemps Final when second at Leopardstown in December off 145, earning a 5lb rise to 150.

However, the Laois Limerick Syndicate's performer was revealed as the top weight for the Pertemps Final with a mark of 156, leaving Smith favouring a tilt at the Grade 1 hurdle on the same card.

"He seems fine since Naas, when he had an overreach and didn't run his race at all," said the Meath handler.

"The extra 6lb could be a very tough ask for him in the Pertemps, so we've more or less decided that we're going to let him take his chance in the Stayers' Hurdle."

Matthew Smith: 'I'd be expecting a good run from him if all went well between now and then'Credit: Patrick McCann

He added: "People might say we're mad taking on Paisley Park but we could be mad to try to give so much weight away in the Pertemps, so we'll let him take his chance. I'd be expecting a good run from him if all went well between now and then."

Ronald Pump is priced between 33-1 and 50-1 for the Stayers', while last year's Pertemps Final hero Sire Du Berlais will now carry top weight in the handicap off 152, 7lb higher than last year.

Smith also hopes to be represented in the Northern Trust Novices' Handicap Chase by capable seven-year-old Lord Schnitzel, who has finished second to National Hunt Chase favourite Carefully Selected over hurdles and fences.

Lord Schnitzel (nearside) gave Carefully Selected a scare at Fairyhouse earlier this seasonCredit: Caroline Norris

"He ran well for a long way in the Thyestes before getting tired, and he'll run in the Novices' Handicap Chase if he gets in," explained Smith of his intended runner, who needs ten horses to come out in order to get a run.

Another Irish handicapper waiting on a place in a festival handicap is the Charles Byrnes-trained Thosedaysaregone, with a possible €100,000 bonus for connections should he add to his Ladbrokes Hurdle win in the Coral Cup.

Byrnes' Dublin Racing Festival scorer, priced between 10-1 and 16-1 for Cheltenham success, delivered off a mark of 126 last time and earned an 8lb rise from the Irish handicapper, with an additional 5lb on his British mark taking him to 139.

Thosedaysaregone is currently number 64 in the handicap listings and only 26 are designated to run, but connections can take encouragement from the fact that the bottom weight in last year's running was number 97 at this stage last year.

Thosedaysaregone landed the €150,000 Ladbrokes Hurdle at Leopardstown earlier this month and will pick up a €100,000 bonus if winning the Coral Cup at CheltenhamCredit: Caroline Norris

"He'll probably get into it and he seems in good form since Leopardstown but it won't be easy for him," said the Limerick handler.

"We were delighted to win a great pot with him last time and won't be greedy, although the bonus is an added incentive. He's 13lb higher than last time and that's a tough ask."

He added: "We've had three great days at Cheltenham before – three Grade 1s with Weapon's Amnesty [twice] and Solwhit – but we wouldn't say no to a handicap either!

"Doctor Duffy isn't qualified for the Pertemps so I'd imagine it'll be the Martin Pipe for him. Kevin [Brouder] will probably ride both of them."

One Dublin Racing Festival winner that won't be making the journey to the Cotswolds next month is Robert Widger's extremely progressive handicap hurdler Treacysenniscorthy, as short as 12-1 for the Pertemps Final.

Treacysenniscorthy ran out a commanding winner of the William Fry Handicap Hurdle at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann

Widger's stable star, who has won five of his last six starts, will instead revert to fences on home soil where he is rated 119, 23lb lower than the mark he would have to compete off at Cheltenham.

"He's been brilliant for us all season and maybe we'd be asking a bit too much to run him at the festival off his mark," said Widger.

"There's plenty of good pots in Ireland and the plan is for him to run in a novice handicap chase worth €65,000 at Naas on the Saturday after Cheltenham."

He added: "We'd love to be going to Cheltenham, but there are probably plenty of horses there who are well handicapped. Our horse has been fantastic all year and we really appreciate him."

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