GALWAY Hurdle runner-up Bayan has the €150,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap at Leopardstown next Saturday as his next objective.

Bayan finished third in a similar event over the 14-furlong course and distance in the Movember Handicap last year.

The Danehill Dancer gelding was below par at Ripon in April, but after a break he returned to Leopardstown to score in a one-mile-six-furlong handicap in July and again connections have a prize at the Foxrock venue in their sights.

A 14,000gns from the Brian Meehan yard at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale in 2012, Bayan has provided his owners, the Core Syndicate, and trainer Gordon Elliott, with much enjoyment since.

The Core Syndicate includes At The Races presenter Gary O’Brien, and he said: “He has developed into a right horse for us. He was a little disappointing at Ripon, but apart from that he’s never really let us down.

“He was third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, he won the Lartigue at Listowel as well as finishing second in the big handicap on the Friday evening at Galway in 2013.

“That race coming up at Leopardstown fits into his schedule and races like The Ladbroke at Ascot could be an option for him later on.”

BOLD AMBITION

British trainer Mike Murphy could be represented on Irish Champions Weekend by Discussiontofollow in the Irish.Stallion.Farms EBF ‘Bold Lad’ Sprint Handicap at the Curragh on Sunday week.

The classy sprinter has shot up the weights this season and was well fancied for the Stewards’ Cup where he finished sixth. He also has the option of the Portland Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting and will run wherever the ground is fastest.

“If it’s good ground next weekend he’ll run in one of those, if not it will be the Ayr Gold Cup. It’s unlikely he’ll get his ground there, but you never know,” said Murphy.