Irish Racing Fairyhouse preview: Just three horses are declared for a Powers Gold Cup that has provoked more than it's share of fall-out even before it has been run. Michael Hourigan took out Beef Or Salmon yesterday morning, explaining that the ground was "too fast" to risk the star novice.
Instead Beef Or Salmon will wait for Punchestown's Heineken Gold Cup.
"I would rather answer questions about not running than if he did run and something happened," Hourigan said.
The later irony was that persistent drizzle meant the going was changed to "good" from "good to firm" after the third race yesterday.
Before that, however, it was still a shock that an a80,000 race, that had 10 entries at the scratching stage, should cut up so badly.
One Night Out fell in yesterday's Grand National but remains an intended runner. Nevertheless, the situation was enough for Dermot Weld to call for a change to the system.
Weld said he took his entry, Ansar, out at 9.55 a.m. yesterday in the belief that the race would have up to six or seven runners.
"By 10 a.m. the whole thing had changed. Five minutes earlier the indications were that the top five jockeys all had rides but suddenly they didn't.
"I would have run Ansar if I had known and for the sake of the sponsor, the good of racing and the public the system should be changed. We are supposed to be in a professional entertainment business.
"It should be like the US. For Graded or Group races, if things cut up, the Turf Club should be able to ring up the connections of horses who were in at the scratching stage, tell them the situation and ask them if they want to change their mind about running.
"That could take only a few minutes, until 10.15 maybe, and the problem could be solved. Instead, you have a situation now where just two horses might run," Weld said.
"Disappointing," was the reaction of the Fairyhouse manager Dick Shiel and the end result appears to be something of a Grade One penalty kick for Adamant Approach.
A competitive contest is what could be expected for the a58,500 first pot in the Gold Label Series Final and expectations have been met.
The County Hurdle disappointment Mise Rafturai tries for compensation while any give in the ground would bring Some Buzz into calculations.
A compromise solution in the conditions, however, might be Take Flite who should be okay on the ground if a fall at Liverpool last time hasn't left its mark.
The Goffs Land Rover Bumper has attracted the Newbury winner Yardbird from Noel Chance's Lambourn yard but it will be disappointing for the home brigade if there isn't something to keep the big pot in Ireland.
Eddie Hales has a strong team of bumper horses and Public Reaction could be the solution while his newcomer Mr Fisher should also be watched in the last.
Central House's form ties in with some of the best of the novice hurdle form of the season and the Dessie Hughes runner is just preferred to In The Forge in the conditions hurdle.
In Joe Blake's absence, the 2001 winner Polaris Flame may be the solution to the Joseph O'Reilly Memorial Cup.
Keeping The Faith hasn't had a race since Listowel last September but Tommy Carmody's runner does act on decent going and Ruby Walsh looks a significant booking.
Jockey Tom McLaughlin made a winning return to action on Repertory at Cork yesterday.
McLaughlin had taken a four-week break from race riding to combat weight problems.
He needed all his strength on the Malcolm Saunders-trained 10-year-old to get the better of Michael Kinane and Osterhase by a short head in the Listed Cork Stakes over five furlongs.
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