Vedette out of big race

LEOPARDSTOWN’S BUMPER weekend took a blow last evening with confirmation that the star mare Voler La Vedette will miss Sunday’s Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle.

Colm Murphy’s charge had been as low as 3 to 1 second favourite behind Solwhit in ante-post betting for the Grade One event.

“She was doing a routine canter this morning and she wasn’t one hundred per cent afterwards. We had her checked out and she has pulled a muscle,” Murphy said.

“We won’t know for a day or two how bad it is but obviously she won’t be running at the weekend. Hopefully it won’t be too serious,” the Co Wexford trainer added.

Voler La Vedette’s primary Cheltenham festival target remains the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle but Sunday’s race was a trial to see if she might be switched to the Champion Hurdle. Earlier in the season she had beaten the current Champion Hurdle favourite, Go Native, by 15 lengths at Down Royal.

It maybe taking place 72 two hours later than planned but action returns to Naas this afternoon featuring a four-runner Grade Two that may not be as straight-forward as it initially looks. Alpha Ridge easily boasts the best form in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase having earlier finished runner-up to Pandorama in the Drinmore.

The trio of Beckett Rock, Oscar Looby and Telenor can’t boast anything that good but the fact remains Alpha Ridge’s jumping was not good in his subsequent start at Leopardstown when well beaten in another Grade One.

Trainer Paul Nolan believes the better ground and a faster pace worked against Alpha Ridge over Christmas and was in confident mood yesterday.

“Maybe he’s a total mudlark,” he said. “This is a competitive race and a case can be made for everything in it. Having said I’d be disappointed if he can’t win. It looks a great opportunity.”

Nevertheless it could be dangerous taking short odds about Alpha Ridge and even with the delay from Saturday’s postponed meeting, Jim Dreaper is still holding his ground with Telenor.

There was much to like about this one’s success at Navan last time and heavy conditions won’t bother him.

De Valira and Muirhead renew rivalry in the Listed Limestone Lad Hurdle after running behind Solwhit in a Grade One over Christmas.

De Valira finished just ahead of Muirhead on that occasion but his trainer was not confident yesterday of confirming that form.

“If Noel Meade’s horse didn’t run his race the last day we might have a job to finish in front of him again,” said James Morrissey. “But we are hoping to run him close.”

Last season’s Galway Plate hero Ballyholland begins his road to the Aintree National in the two-mile novice hurdle but this looks a good opportunity for Luska Lad.

Ruby Walsh was unavailable to ride Seabass for his father, Ted, on Saturday but the cancellation can work out in his favour in the handicap chase.