Champagne can flow for Taaffe

The luck that has been riding with Tom Taaffe over Christmas and the New Year can continue at Naas tomorrow when Champagne Native opposes Native Dara and Take Five in the Craddoxtown EBF Novice at Naas Chase.

At Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day Secret Native jumped right across Ricardo at the final flight, but then put sufficient daylight between himself and Ricardo to forestall any possible alteration in the judge's placings.

Then, at Thurles on Thursday, Delphi Lodge ended a lengthy losing sequence when Alcapone was disqualified for going the wrong side of a doll.

Only seven of the 15 runners got around at Fairyhouse where Champagne Native won his Beginners Chase, and he has been in the frame twice since. The better of these placings came at Navan where he got past Over The Furze when the latter blundered two out, but was then reeled in by the winner on the flat.

If Native Dara shows his Naas form over fences, rather than that exhibited subsequently at Fairyhouse, he could be a tough nut to crack, while Take Five will also make a mark as a novice chaser as he gains experience.

The most valuable prize of the weekend is the Grade Three Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Hurdle, and punters will not find it easy to pick between a brace of runaway recent hurdle winners, Harbour Pilot and Bob Justice. Harbour Pilot gets the nod in the belief that Gareth Cotter, deputising for Ruby Walsh, who was at Kempton for Florida Pearl that day, stole a march on his rivals and gained such a lead in heavy ground that nothing could pick him up.

Since setting up training, Michael Halford had his best season to date in 2000, and Chanoud is napped to cope with a massive line up in the Gowla Power-Pak Maiden Hurdle. He was placed in both his hurdle starts, finishing third in each instance to runners sporting the Susan Magnier colours, namely Ned Kelly at Naas and Timber King at Leopardstown.

Cork has once again been obliged to cancel its steeplechases today, and as a consequence, the Duhallow Maiden Hurdle was split three ways to make a seven race programme. The trio to follow in their respective divisions are Griffinstown Lad, Dawn Native and Bunratty Castle. But So Supreme is napped to take the BBA Training Hurdle in the hands of her trainer/rider Charlie Swan.