News not good for soft ground horses

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL:STAR PERFORMERS like the former Champion Hurdle winner Brave Inca and the Gold Cup hope Notre Pere whose connections had been praying for soft ground conditions at next week's Cheltenham festival look like being disappointed.

The going on both the New and Old courses yesterday was officially “good” and although a wet front was due overnight, it may not provide enough rain for those who need mud to be at their best.

“We are forecast to get between 10-14mms of rain between now and the end of the week and things look much drier through the weekend and festival week,” said Cheltenham’s clerk of the course Simon Claisse yesterday.

That’s not encouraging news for soft-ground performers like Notre Pere and the top Willie Mullins trained novice Mikael d’Haguenet who still hold entries in the Supreme, Ballymore and Albert Bartlett next week.

“He seems to be a horse with a lot of ability and I’d probably like to get a bit of rain for him to show his best,” Mullins said yesterday. “But I’m happy he has gone the right way all season for me.”

Mullins also confirmed that no final plans have been made for many people’s “Irish banker” at the festival, Cousin Vinny, who also holds the three novice entries.

“I’m keeping an eye on the horse and I’m keeping an eye on what’s running where and we will make a decision later on,” he said.

“I’ll keep an eye on the ground too although I don’t think that will be a major issue with him.”

Colm Murphy has already said he believes soft ground will help Brave Inca on Tuesday more than much of his likely opposition but his more immediate concern is finding a jockey for his 2006 Champion.

“We will wait until the end of the week and then see who is available. He worked at Leopardstown on Monday and that went well,” Murphy said yesterday.

Ruby Walsh rode Brave Inca to win the Irish Champion Hurdle in January but he is committed to Celestial Halo while Tony McCoy, who rode Brave Inca to his finest victory three years ago, is on the hot favourite, Binocular. Murphy has already moved to confirm jockey arrangements for his Champion Chase hope Big Zeb with Robert “Chocolate” Thornton replacing Matt O’Connor.

“Choc has a fantastic record at Cheltenham, it’s second to none. He’s a top class jockey and we are lucky to get him,” he said.

Murphy plans to run four horses at the festival with Megans Joy working well enough earlier this week to earn a ticket to the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle while Clew Bay Cove looks like getting into the weights for the Grand Annual, the festival finale on Friday.

Enda Bolger will have at least three runners in the cross-country handicap chase with the defending champion Garde Champetre again due to be ridden by Nina Carberry.

“He is paying for his success and has 11st 12lb. He’s a class horse but I’m a bit worried about the weight. He is not a big horse,” Bolger said before outlining that JT McNamara will ride L’Ami with the Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power on board Drombeag.

The Co Dublin-based trainer Oliver McKiernan could have three runners at the festival headed by the Durkan New Homes winner Follow The Plan in the Arkle.

“He gave weight to Tatenen in the Durkan and it was a real good battle to the line. His level of form suggests he goes to Cheltenham with a decent chance,” McKiernan said yesterday.

Whatuthink is a candidate for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle while the veteran Star Performance could have another crack at the cross-country chase.

A total of 28 entries have been left in Sunday’s Lucan Racing Leinster National at Naas, a new race that provides a €50,000 bonus if the winner goes on to also land the Irish National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

The dual-Thyestes winner Preists Leap is among the 28 as is Chelsea Harbour who was a four length runner-up to his rival at Gowran Park in January. Both horses are being aimed at the English Grand National. Also among the entries is another Aintree hopeful Southern Vic.