Trainer Gordon Elliott is hoping Labaik puts in a performance like the one which saw him win at Cheltenham when he runs at Punchestown.
Elliot rates the six-year-old highly and his trust in the grey was repaid at this year’s Cheltenham Festival when he won the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
He has a history of refusing to race, so there is always a worry he may revert to that, but Elliott is looking for a repeat of the Cheltenham form when he runs in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday.
Elliott told reporters: “Everyone knows at this stage, if he jumps off on terms, he has a massive engine, but he has to jump off!
“We didn’t end up doing a whole lot different with him at Cheltenham than we will be doing at Punchestown, as Busty [Amond, assistant trainer] was down there with him and the starter didn’t really need to go near him with the long tom, he was just on a going day that day.
“All we can do is hope that he’s on another going day. He seems to be a great form and worked well last Wednesday.”
