Ronald Pump set for Stayers’ Hurdle

Trainer Matthew Smith has revealed that Ronald Pump is likely to run in the Stayers' Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival rather than the Pertemps Final.

The vastly improved seven-year-old qualified for the Pertemps following a second-place finish at Leopardstown in December, although he would have been given top-weight for that race.

That has led to Smith’s decision to swerve the Grade Three race in favour of a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle where he is likely to come up against defending champion Paisley Park.

‘He seems fine since Naas, when he had an overreach and didn’t run his race at all,’ said the Meath handler.

‘The extra 6lb could be a very tough ask for him in the Pertemps, so we’ve more or less decided that we’re going to let him take his chance in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

‘ Smith concedes going toe-to-toe against Paisley Park may seem a tough ask for most, but he is confident Ronald Pump can pose a serious threat to Emma Lavelle’s stable star.

‘People might say we’re mad taking on Paisley Park but we could be mad to try to give so much weight away in the Pertemps, so we’ll let him take his chance,’ Smith added.

‘I’d be expecting a good run from him if all went well between now and then.’

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