Naas Preview:No problems are anticipated with today's Naas card going ahead but one trainer who will be very interested in the result of a morning inspection at Haydock is Charles Byrnes who hopes to run Mounthenry in the Grade Two Champion Hurdle Trial.
Mounthenry returned to hurdling after three fruitless runs in novice chases when chasing home Celestial Wave at Navan last month and reverts to two miles today - if the meeting gets the green light after a 7am inspection.
"Apparently it's 50-50 at the moment," said Byrnes who has booked Robert "Chocolate" Thornton for the ride on Mounthenry, and also on Carthalawn in the opening handicap chase. A Haydock spokesman added: "We are expecting 8-10mms in the next 24 hours and we would not want any more than that."
The Byrnes duo missed the worst of the bad weather during the week and have been at Haydock since Wednesday. "We are putting cheek-pieces on Mounthenry to try and sharpen his jumping," the Co Limerick trainer added yesterday. "It's hard to know if he is good enough but on his best form last season he has to have a chance."
His biggest threat - apart from the elements - looks like being Nicky Henderson's Champion Hurdle entry Afsoun and the veteran 13-year-old The French Furze.
Paul Carberry looks like the jockey to follow in the Naas feature, the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase, on board the dour-stayer Mattock Ranger.
Three miles on testing ground will be a big ask of these novices but stamina shouldn't be a problem to the Noel Meade runner who returned to something like his best form when fourth to Cailin Alainn in the Christmas Grade One over Christmas at Leopardstown.
Even after winning on his chasing debut at Punchestown, Meade insisted that three miles is what Mattock Ranger needs and the horse can prove the point today.
The Carberry-Meade team should also be on the mark in the opening maiden hurdle where Judge Deed shouldn't have to cope with a talent like Arrive Sir Clive who was nine lengths too good for him over Christmas.
The James Bowe team won the Bank Of Ireland twice with Solerina (2004-06), and with Limestone Lad (2002), and Sweet Kiln looks up to the task of joining her illustrious stable companions while a return to Sophist's best would see the horse with a big chance in the novice hurdle, especially with Philip Enright's 7lb claim.
Best World returned to winning form on New Year's Eve and a stone hike in the ratings shouldn't stop Tony Martin's horse making his presence felt in the novice handicap chase.
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