Rely on Golden

RACING: Golden Cross can prove that the punters have got it right for the Triumph Hurdle by scoring at Fairyhouse today. After Leopardstown's Triumph Trial on Hennessy day, the race sponsors Cashmans wrote off the chances of an Irish winner at Cheltenham by going 33 to 1 any named Irish-trained horse.

It's surely significant that yesterday in their ante-post Triumph lists, it's not the Leopardstown winner Mutineer who is the shortest priced but the runner-up Golden Cross.

Michael Halford's horse is a 20 to 1 shot and can get a morale booster ahead of the festival in the Grade Three Winning Fair Hurdle.

That Leopardstown run came on the back of a Christmas misfortune where Golden Cross swallowed a sod of earth during the Dennys. In the circumstances it was little surprise to see him weaken on the run-in a fortnight ago after looking all over a winner at the last.

The Denny winner Party Airs has it all to do on that form and while Statim gets 12lb from Golden Cross, he has proved unreliable before.

Rince Ri bounced back to form when beaten only just over five lengths by Beef Or Salmon in the Hennessy and looks to have little more than a penalty kick in the Bobbyjo Chase. It's worth noting, however, he is also an entry in tomorrow's Newlands Chase.

There will be considerable interest in the bumper to see if the highly touted Willie Mullins runner Davenport Democrat can make up for a flop on his Leopardstown debut.

Davenport Democrat was only 15th in the race won by Dizzys Dream and stopped as if shot as the field emerged from the back straight. On reputation alone he looks worth another shout.

The same comment could also apply to the Dermot Weld-trained Ballyconnell in the Beginners Chase. This one flopped at Gowran in October but before that had looked all over a winner at Clonmel only to unseat Barry Geraghty by swerving on the run in.

It's a competitive field for the three-mile handicap hurdle and maybe the Down Royal winner Doodle Addle could improve for the step up in trip.

The Bowe family, who have enjoyed a remarkable season with both Limestone Lad and Solerina, were last night honoured with the National Hunt Achievement Award for 2,002. They picked up the award at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's Breeding and Racing Awards Dinner. Other winners were the Moyglare Stud manager Stan Cosgrove and Ballymacoll Stud.