D-DAY IF CRO READY TO FLY

SAMCRO’S participation in the Sun Racing Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham next week hinges on a gallop in Navan this morning.

Gordon Elliott, inset, will work many of his Cheltenham team at the County Meath track, with the focus on last season’s star novice Samcro, above, reported to have a lung infection in the wake of a below par effort in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.

The option of stepping-up to three miles has been considered and, reportedly in good fettle in his work in recent weeks, he’ll have to prove his well-being this morning.

Meanwhile, Eddie Harty’s Ryanair Chase candidate Coney Island (Mark Walsh) schooled on his own after racing in Leopardstown yesterday.

Also included in the postracing schooling/galloping session were the Willie Mullins-trained National Hunt Chase hope Ballyward and stable-companion Pravalaguna and the Pat Fahy-trained Castlegrace Paddy, which holds engagements in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair.

In other Cheltenham news, their respective trainers have confirmed the J P Mcmanus-owned Jezki, De Name Escapes Me and Ivanovich Gorbatov will all miss the Festival due to the way they have been treated by the English handicapper, relative to other Irish entries.

But Espoir D’allen received the go-ahead to take his chance in the Unibet Champion Hurdle next Tuesday, with Mark Walsh in the saddle following a gallop after racing in Navan on

Sunday.

Elsewhere, off the track since his impressive maiden hurdle success in Galway in September, the Emmet Mullins-trained

Zero Ten bolted-up in yesterday’s Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle in Leopardstown.

Ridden by David Mullins, the 8/11 favourite toyed with his opposition on the home turn before being allowed to stretch clear to slam Eviscerating by 13 lengths.

“There are endless possibilities with this horse – he has lots of gears,” said Emmet Mullins. “He met with a setback after Galway and I was afraid he might miss his novice season. So I’m delighted to have him back.

“We have options – he might go for a graded race at Fairyhouse over Easter. And there’s the final of this series at Punchestown – he’s a point-to-point winner and the extra half mile would be right up his street.”

Champion-jockey Davy Russell took the riding honours, landing the opening mares maiden hurdle on Kilbarry Lilly, a first runner at Leopardstown for County Waterford trainer Con O’keeffe, and following-up on Elliott’s Serious Ego, a runaway winner of the Leopardstown May Family Day Handicap Hurdle.

And the featured Irish Stallion Farms Rated Novice Chase went in style to the Liam Cusack-trained Snugsborough Hall, partnered by Denis O’regan to a smooth, nine lengths victory over Lean And Keen.