Mouse looks ahead with Attrition

Mouse Morris' 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition is being readied for another National Hunt campaign.

Th 10-year-old spent the best part of two years on the sidelines after suffering an injury in 2006, but made a winning return at Thurles last November and largely acquitted himself well subsequently.

Many thought retirement beckoned after he was pulled up on his most recent start at Punchestown in April, but Morris is pleased with his stable star's current condition.

'War Of Attrition is in good form and is in full training at the moment, so we'll just have to see how it goes with him,' said the County Tipperary handler.

He seems well in himself but obviously it's early days. 'We're looking at the John Durkan at Punchestown on 6 December as a possible target, but we'll see.'

Morris also had news of another high-class inmate in Venalmar, who was second in the 2008 Ballymore Properties' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but missed all of last season due to injury.

'He's back in full training as well and I would say he'll go novice chasing, but we haven't decided where we'll start him off yet,' Morris added.