JODAMI, winner of the 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup, runner-up the following year and three times successful in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, and Flashing Steel who carried top weight to win last year's Jameson Irish Grand National, are the undoubted class horses for today's £100,000 renewal.

At II years they may be past their peak, but the prevailing underfoot conditions will suit both chasers admirably and being lightly raced this season, will be fresher than many of their rivals. It is quite conceivable that the duo will fight out the finish.

Jodami is now fully recovered from a virus which interrupted his preparation for a fourth tilt at the Leopardstown classic as well as the Gold Cup and Grand National. He pleased trainer Peter Beaumont and rider Mark Dwyer in his final gallop over a mile and a half last week and if successful today will be the fourth horse to have completed the Irish National Gold Cup double after Arkle, Tied Cottage and Desert Orchid.

The Irish bred, Yorkshire owned and trained chaser began the season with a most promising seven length second behind One Man in an extended three mile handicap chase at Ayr in November. One Man, who went on to win the King George VI Chase at Sandown in riveting fashion, was receiving no less than 16lb from Jodami who subsequently landed prohibitive odds in a handicap chase at Kelso, but while giving 24lb to the runner-up, apparently ran below his best.

Jodami then reappeared in the Greenalls Handicap Chase at Haydock at the end of February, but choked during the race and was pulled up. He was later found to be coughing.

If Flashing Steel wins, he will become only the second horse since the war to triumph in successive years since the great Brown Lad (1975, 1976 and 1978). Like Jodami, Flashing Steel made a promising (if unexpected) winning start to this season when scoring for the third time over this course in early December. With the Gold Cup in view he was prepared for one if not two races over the Cheltenham's course, but inclement weather caused the abandonment of the meeting and he next appeared in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown where, completely unsuited to the testing ground he was tailed off before being pulled up by Richard Dunwoody who chose to ride him rather than the winner Imperial Call.

Flashing Steel bypassed the Gold Cup - in which he finished a good fourth behind The Fellow and Jodami in 1994 - to run in the Festival's Ritz Club Handicap Chase under top weight. He looked in marvellous condition but the ground was very dead and a mistake at the ninth fence spoiled any chance he had and was eventually pulled up.

Britain's prospects of landing the big prize for just the fourth time in nearly 70 years have been badly hit by the continued good weather. Ante-post favourite Suny Bay has been ruled out of the contest as trainer Charlie Brooks believes the ground at Fairyhouse is not soft enough for the gelding.

Gordon Richards also pulled Greenalls Grand National Trial second Tartan Tyrant out of the 29-furlong event due to the lack of rain.

Norman Conqueror is the Queen Mother's first runner in the Republic for 25 years but like Suny Bay this 11-year-old is not suited by fast ground. He won the Grand Military Amateur Chase at Sandown last month for a record fifth time and his trainer Tim Thomson Jones is hoping that this decent, staying jumper can keep up with the pace.

Cool Dawn, another British challenger, was outgunned by Elegant Lord in the Christies Foxhunters at Cheltenham, but this young Dorset trained hunter and former prolific point-to-pointer is a fine jumper and likes to force the pace. He has been well supported in recent days.

Lord Singapore, the mount of Richard Dunwoody. has won three times over this course and is most consistent. He was most impressive in winning at Leopardstown last time out and had earlier finished second behind Johnny Setaside in the National Trial at Punchestown. However, he appears to be at his best on soft or yielding going.

Indeed, I feel the going will play a crucial part and in choosing between Jodami and Flashing Steel I favour the former. Victory (or either would prove popular.