Greatrex eyes Punchestown with La Bague Au Roi after wind surgery

Warren Greatrex hopes a breathing operation will help La Bague Au Roi bounce back to her best in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on April 26.

The Lambourn handler plans to step the seven-year-old back up to three miles in the Grade One prize after she suffered her first defeat of the season when last of seven finishers in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Greatrex said: "She had a wind op since her run at Cheltenham. She looked like she was going to win turning in, then she hit a wall and jumped the last very tired.

"She will go to Punchestown, all being well, and go back up to three miles for the Grade One Stayers Hurdle there.

"I think we went for the right race at Cheltenham, there was a wind issue there and that was the problem.

"She has taken the operation well and we've got a bit of time until the end of April. With these mares we could do with a bit warmer weather, but she seems in good form."