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Spring Juvenile Hurdle not on Fiscal Focus agenda

There's a shock in Ireland as Fiscal Focus beats Kalkir in the juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown
Image: Fiscal Focus

Desmond McDonogh has ruled out any notion of running Fiscal Focus at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

The four-year-old still holds an entry in the Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle, but the County Meath handler will not be tempted to take up that engagement.

Fiscal Focus travelled too keenly in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, eventually finishing last behind Hurricane Fly.

"He's in good nick," said McDonogh.

"He ran very freely after the third hurdle and you are never going to get home after that, let alone against those top horses.

"He pulled and pulled and pulled, which was a pity.

"People might say I over-faced him, but he was entitled to run in that company after his Leopardstown win.

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"That (Spring Hurdle) won't happen. We'll give him time to freshen up and then see where we are."

The Jim Bolger-owned colt remains an exciting prospect, having won the Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Though he remains in the ante-post betting for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, McDonogh will not yet commit to a run at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He said: "I couldn't tell you whether he'll go there (Cheltenham) just yet.

"We've still got a top horse, though. The best I've had in a long time."

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