Foreman may be surprise runner

Previews: The cream of Ireland's novice chase crop look like featuring in Leopardstown's St Stephen's Day feature, the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase, but the JP McManus team could have a French surprise for them all with Foreman.

The 2004 AIG Irish Champion Hurdle winner was the surprise entry among the 17 horses left in the Grade One highlight at yesterday's forfeit stage and Foreman is a possible contender to return to the Dublin track.

Foreman last appeared over fences at Leopardstown in January when runner-up to Ulaan Baatar in the Arkle while his only other chase start was another runner-up position behind Kauto Star at Newbury.

If the Thierry Doumen-trained star does travel to Ireland he could end up facing such rising stars of the chasing game as the unbeaten Justified and the Grade One Drinmore-winner Kill Devil Hill. Other star names left in the race include the Cheltenham bumper winner Missed That and the Noel Meade-trained Wild Passion.

"It's very much a possibility that Foreman will come over. I think he will either go to Leopardstown or wait for a novice at Newbury on the 28th. We're not 100 per cent sure just yet," said McManus's racing manager Frank Berry yesteday.

"He seems to be in very good form. He had a run over hurdles in France about a month ago and got on all right, finishing fourth or fifth. We will just have to wait and see for a while yet," Berry added.

McManus's spokesman also reported that the former double staying hurdles champion Baracouda may yet appear at Leopardstown in the woodiesdiy.com Hurdle despite efforts in Britain to reschedule the Long Walk Hurdle that was lost to the weather on Saturday.

According to reports, Chepstow's New Year's Day card is the most likely date for a reschedule but Berry said: "Depending on what the weather does Baracouda could still come here. All I know about the other race is what I read."

Justified is likely to start favourite for the big race and yesterday got an upbeat report from his trainer Dusty Sheehy. "Personally I wouldn't swap my horse for any of them. He is in great form and hasn't missed a day's work. I am more than happy with him so far," said Sheehy whose other stable star, Rathgar Beau, is an entry in the Paddy Power Dial-A Bet Chase on Tuesday next.

"Rathgar Beau scoped badly before the Tingle Creek and didn't go to Sandown but with Justified there has been no doubt about his scopes all the way through. There has been no problem with him and all his bloods have been perfect," he added.

Kill Devil Hill holds a number of entries during the holiday period including being one of 21 left in the Grade Two Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick on Monday.

A total of 21 remain in the Grade Two Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown and they include Saturday's Fairyhouse winner Artist's Muse as well as the double winner King Of Merlia.

"As long as everything goes to plan he will run," reported King Of Merlia's trainer Sheehy.