Fenton monitoring going for Dunguib

Philip Fenton plans to walk the track before committing Dunguib to the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Last season's Champion Bumper hero is three from three over obstacles and is already as short as even-money for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Sunday's Grade One is due to be his final run before the Festival curtain-raiser on 16 March, but Fenton is keen for his charge not too have too hard a race with Cheltenham on the horizon.

'Unfortunately we've had a world of rain in the last 24 hours, which means the ground will be heavy,' said Fenton.

'We could go and walk the track on Saturday evening and if not, we'd certainly walk it bright and early on Sunday morning.

'At the moment he is running and if we could get a drying day that would be a big help.

'We are only just over five weeks away from Cheltenham and the last thing we'd want to do is run him over two miles and two furlongs on heavy ground.

'He seems to recover well from his races but the last thing we'd want on Sunday is a real grueller with Cheltenham in mind.'

Fenton has all but ruled out taking on more experienced rivals in the Champion Hurdle at the Festival, with the Supreme now firmly on Dunguib's agenda.

'We've decided that he should run in the Supreme this year and bypass the Champion Hurdle,' Fenton told At The Races.

'That has been the plan and the Supreme would do us for this year, if we're good enough.'

Dunguib will face seven rivals on Sunday, including Some Present, who was second when Dunguib won the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins is represented by Fionnegas, while Alice Bradys Call, Saludos, Aon Sceal, Mr Cracker and Whodoyouthink complete the field.

Jockey Brian O'Connell has been ever-present during Dunguib's career and is excited to be once again getting the leg-up on Sunday.

'Hopefully he'll come through it all right as this will probably be his last run before Cheltenham,' said O'Connell.

'It's a Grade One race and they all take some winning. We'll just have to hope everything goes well.

'I gave him a school earlier in the week and his jumping is definitely improving all the time - I'd say that's the best he's ever schooled.

'We gave him a blow-out on Thursday morning and that all went well, so we just hope everything goes OK on the day.

'He handles all type of ground but does prefer it on the better side, so hopefully it will dry out a bit between now and Sunday.'