Glenfinn to face nine rivals

Racing : Glenfinn Captain heads a list of 10 hopefuls going for gold in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on…

Racing: Glenfinn Captain heads a list of 10 hopefuls going for gold in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

Tom Taaffe's seven-year-old, owned by JP McManus, has won five of his seven races to date and made the perfect start to his chasing career when proving far too strong for Khetaam at Fairyhouse in October.

McManus will be double-handed in the two-mile-one-furlong affair with Wanango, who also made a winning debut over larger obstacles at Fairyhouse.

Among their rivals in the Grade One feature are the highly-regarded pair of Blueberry Boy and Conna Castle, as well as last season's Coral Cup hero Sky's The Limit.

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Pom Flyer, Schindlers Hunt, Young Desperado, Don't Be Bitin and Hear The Echo complete the line-up.

Conna Castle has not been seen since falling at Punchestown in a Grade Two race won by Blueberry Boy. He suffered a slight problem as a result of that mishap but is reportedly back on good terms with himself.

"He came home from Punchestown with a pulled muscle so he's missed a bit and was out for a couple of days," explained handler Jimmy Mangan. "He came right again and he's back on schedule now, although he might not just be 100 per cent fit but he's good enough to do himself justice I think.

"Being honest about things, I don't think you'll see the real Conna Castle until the spring but I've been very lucky to get Paul (Carberry).

"He won the 1997 Galway Plate for me on Stroll Home so he's been a very lucky rider for me."