‘We have been waiting on the ground’

Tony Martin is hopeful he will be able to run Anibale Fly in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup next weekend.

Placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National last season, the nine-year-old has been restricted to one run this term, over an inadequate two miles.

Martin is keen to get his stable star out again, but he will not run him unless there is sufficient cut in the ground.

“Hopefully he’ll get to Leopardstown,” said Martin.

“We have been waiting on the ground and just didn’t want to chance him on it.

“We have got plenty of work into him and we are happy that way. We have brought him away a few times and we went to the beach as well.

“Once the ground is yielding he should be all right.”

In opposition at Leopardstown is likely to be Road To Respect, winner of the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in November and unfortunate not to be close than third to Kemboy in the Savills Chase at Christmas.

His trainer Noel Meade said on Sunday: “Road To Respect did a nice bit of work around Fairyhouse yesterday and is on course for Leopardstown, although I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of rain.”