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Leopardstown on Nicky Richards' Simply Ned agenda

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Barry Geraghty riding Uxizandre (R) clear the last to win The Shloer Steeple Chase at Cheltenham racecourse.
Image: Simply Ned (centre) chases home Uxizandre at Cheltenham

Simply Ned will be prepared for a trip to Leopardstown over the Festive period following a fine run in defeat at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Having made an impressive return to action under a big weight in a Kelso handicap chase last month, the seven-year-old was stepped up in class for the Listed Shloer Chase and came up only narrowly short behind Grade One winner Uxizandre.

With Simply Ned seemingly not as effective racing right-handed, races like the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton are not on his agenda, leaving trainer Nicky Richards eyeing the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase in Ireland.

Richard said: "It was a good run. I was probably a little bit disappointed that he didn't win straight after the race, but when I got home last night I went through the winner's form and he's obviously a proper horse.

"We think our lad is a very good horse as well and he proved he's up to running in that company, so we're delighted.

"He definitely wants better ground than he got yesterday, but he finished well up the hill so we'll look forward to his next run.

"He needs to go left-handed, so I'd imagine his next run will be at Leopardstown at Christmas in the Dial-A-Bet."

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Simply Ned was one of two runners at Cheltenham on Sunday for the Greystoke handler, with Duke Of Navan suffering a heavy fall at the final fence when beaten in the Grade Two Arkle Trophy Trial.

Richards is pleased to report his six-year-old emerged relatively unscathed, but he is unsurprisingly keen to wait a while before making future plans.

"He's a bit sore as it was a heavy old fall, but he's been led out this morning for a pick of grass and he seems all right," said the trainer.

"He was just struggling to jump out of that ground. It was horrible ground there yesterday and after two fences I could see he was labouring in it.

"It's to the horse's credit that turning in with two fences to jump he was only four or five lengths behind, but unfortunately he came down.

"We'll just take our time before our next move, let the dust settle and get rid of a few aches and pains."

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