Confidence in His Song

For a beleagured racecourse Tipperary produces a very interesting programme tomorrow and it's a sure sign of the approaching winter when the Beginners Chase will attract more interest than the Group 3 Concorde Stakes.

The giant His Song takes the first step on what could be a fascinating progression to the top of the novice chase tree and on the basis of his novice hurdle form, a winner at the Punchestown festival and runner-up at Cheltenham, he has easily the best impressive credentials. Mouse Morris' horse is reported to have schooled well and although Michael Hourigan's Amberleigh House is an interesting opponent, His Song should score first time of asking.

The going is likely to be very testing but that should not prove too much of a problem for Dermot Weld's Two-Twenty-Two who is the selection to beat the English raider Cool Edge in the Concorde.

Runner up to Ramooz at the Curragh last time, Two-Twenty- Two is a proven Group preformer with a win in the Tetrarch and is a tough, proven soft ground performer.

Oonagh's Star may not relish heavy going but is in good form at present, having won at Listowel, and he will like the half mile hike up in distance while, on the ratings, that hardy annual Merry Gale is hard to oppose in the L'Abbaye Chase.