Church Island faces stiff task

Beef Or Salmon has never been able to translate his top home form to Britain and win but at Wetherby this afternoon Michael Hourigan will be hoping the same hex won't be on Church Island who will carry the same colours in the £90,000 Charlie Hall Chase

Andrew McNamara travels to Yorkshire for the ride on last season's Grade Two winning Irish novice as he faces some leading cross-channel chasers such as Our Vic and Kingscliff.

It will be a tough task for Church Island but the three-mile trip has encouraged Hourigan to make the journey from his Co Limerick yard.

"He needs to start somewhere and he needs a three-mile chase. There aren't that many of them about. He's okay and ready to run and he goes on most ground. It's a great race and he'll have to be at his best to win. But I think he has a good future," he said.

Charlie Swan will supply the Irish interest in the £100,000 United House Gold Cup at Ascot where he runs Oodachee who will be hoping to go one better than when runner-up to Loss Of Faith at Cork last time out.

Andrew Leigh will be on board the Jessica Harrington-trained The Last Hurrah in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle which is the main support race at Ascot.

Today's home feature is the Grade Three Paddy Power Poplar Square Chase and although official ratings suggest Zum See has an impossible task against Southern Vic and Slim Pickings, the race itself could tell a very different story.

Both of Zum See's main rivals will surely relish longer trips than the two miles whereas Noel Meade's horse comes here on the back of a very easy success at Cork at the minimum distance.

Zum See's career has been hampered in the past by an allergy problem but there was plenty to like about the way he went about his business at Cork and a similar display this afternoon will make him hard to beat.

It could be a very good day for Paul Carberry who was outstanding in getting Leading Run to win on his recent jumping debut at Punchestown.

The top bumper performer makes a quick reappearance in the novice hurdle and should show the benefit of that run while Carberry could also be on the mark in the handicap chase on board Swordlestown.

Tom Taaffe was fearful Finger Onthe Pulse had run too free when winning here two weeks ago but significantly he returns for the Woodlands Handicap and an 8lb penalty doesn't look enough to stop him.

Tomorrow's Grade Three novice chase at Galway sees the three-time point-to-point winner Conna Castle make his chasing debut under Ruby Walsh.

Trainer Jimmy Mangan reports that his Aintree runner-up will improve for the run but the heavy ground and stiff finish should hold no fears.

Cosmic String won his maiden on heavy ground at Tralee so the conditions should be no problem for the Dermot Weld horse in the handicap hurdle.