Connections confident in Samcro

Connections of Samcro say he is nearing a return to racing after being on the sidelines for 10 months. The seven-year-old was one of the most talked-about horses after winning his first seven races, with his last victory coming in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018. However, he fell in the Punchestown Champions Hurdle the following month and has not won any of his last three outings, at Down Royal, Newcastle and Leopardstown, the latest of which was last December. Despite his poor form, connections for the Gordon Elliott-trained runner say he is in good shape and ready to return to the track. Eddie O’Leary of owner Gigginstown House Stud said: “Hopefully the real Samcro can show up this season, he’s had a full MOT and he’s had a breathing op. “We pulled stumps early last year – that could be a blessing in disguise and he wouldn’t have had his ground really in any case. Gordon seems happy with him.”