PUNCHESTOWN PREVIEW:IT'S THE finish of the 2007/'08 jumps season but also the start of a new fifth day to the Punchestown festival in which the inaugural €220,000 Ballymore Handicap Hurdle will be a rich festival cherry that can fall to Clew Bay Lodge.
The two-and-a-half-mile event is Europe's richest handicap hurdle and the financial centrepiece on a card that also features the Grade One Eventus Marquees Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle as well as a visit by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
He is scheduled to present the championship prizes which have been keenly fought over this week although the champion jockey Ruby Walsh won't be present as he is on duty at Sandown for four rides. The irony is that the British champion jockey Tony McCoy misses out on the British finale at Sandown to be at Punchestown but Ireland's new champion-trainer elect Willie Mullins is set to be among the recipients today.
He will be joined by his 18-year-old son Patrick who is champion amateur rider for the first time with 31 winners while the leading claiming rider is Shane Jackson (26 winners). JP McManus is again champion owner with prize money of almost €1.2 million.
Colm Murphy hit the Grade One jackpot here on Thursday with Big Zeb and the Co Wexford-based trainer looks to have a suitable candidate for today's big race in the shape of Clew Bay Lodge.
The lightly-raced eight-year-old hasn't run since November but that shouldn't be a problem for a horse who returned from a two-year absence with leg problems to win his maiden at Cork last Autumn.
Clew Bay Lodge went on to win a nice prize at Naas on fast ground before running a good third in a Grade Three behind Rathmore Castle. That is smart form and Murphy takes 5lb off his back today with that good amateur, Matt O'Connor.
There is an international flavour to the 25-strong field with five British-trained runners and Ginko Bilboa coming from Francois Cottin's yard in France.
The home team has strength in depth, however, and includes the Pierse winner Barker, the County hero Silver Jaro and right at the bottom of the weights is the versatile Cheltenham winner Tiger Cry. Heavenly Blues is another to seriously consider but Clew Bay Lodge and the in-form Colm Murphy look a combination to side with.
Davy Russell has had a frustrating week, missing out on the jockeys championship, and also missing yesterday's action with an upset stomach. However, it could end on a high courtesy of Won In The Dark in the big juvenile prize.
Sabrina Harty's Grade One winner did best of the Irish in the Triumph at Cheltenham when Franchoek finished just over four lengths ahead. The McManus runner has run again since at Aintree when failing to cut any ice against his elders and Won In The Dark may just have an edge in terms of freshness and a home pitch this time.
L'Ami is a French topweight in the Whitewater Centre Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase in which a handful of other Grand National combatants from earlier this month also take part.
Right at the bottom of the weights, however, is Wickford who should relish this three-miles plus.
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