Gigginstown face Punchestown poser

A decision on which race First Lieutenant contests at the Punchestown Festival could be dictated by the target of the impressive Sir Des Champs.

Both horses are owned by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud and just like at Cheltenham, they are likely to be kept apart at Punchestown.

Trained by Mouse Morris, First Lieutenant was denied back-to-back Festival wins by Bobs Worth in the RSA Chase, while Sir Des Champs ran out one of the most impressive winners of the week in the Jewson and is now favourite for next year’s Gold Cup.

“All the Cheltenham horses are A1,” said Morris.

“I hope First Lieutenant will go to Punchestown but which race I’m not sure as he obviously won’t run in the same race as Sir Des Champs.

“I don’t think there’s a two-and-a-half-mile Grade One at Punchestown so he’ll probably have an entry in the Irish Gold Cup.

“We’ll just keep our options open for the time being.

“A few of Michael’s older horses have had problems but he’s fortunate enough to have to worry about keeping his best apart.”