Dorans set for Cheltenham

Michael Hourigan has had a change of heart about his veteran star Dorans Pride who will after all take his chance in the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham.

The Co Limerick trainer had earlier ruled out the festival option for the 14-year-old but some recent home work has meant a revision of plans.

"He is very well in himself, in great form, and he'll run in the Foxhunters." said Hourigan yesterday.

Dorans Pride returned from retirement earlier in the season and was a point to point winner before running behind Sheltering at the Hennessy fixture.

On that occasion the horse's rider was under strict instructions not to use his whip but Hourigan conceded yesterday: "It's a different ball game at Cheltenham." Dorans Pride won the Stayers Hurdle all of eight years ago and was placed third in the Gold Cup in both 1997 and 1998.

As well as Dorans Pride, Hourigan's Gold Cup hope Beef Or Salmon will also be accompanied to Cheltenham by Clonmel Minella (National Hunt Chase) and Hi Cloy (SunAlliance Hurdle.) Before that, however, the trainer hasn't ruled out sending Beef Or Salmon to Leopardstown for Sunday's traditional post-race work out.

"It's a possibility but it is a long drive and he has been going fine on our own gallops. Everything's fine with him," Hourigan reported.

The Leopardstown authorities wouldn't mind the presence of Beef Or Salmon as the work session doesn't appear likely to attract the same number of stars as in previous years.

"Limestone Lad looks like he might come but apart from that we haven't heard too much about anything else. Ted Walsh will probably school his on Monday and we've had inquiries from Tony Martin and Charlie Swan," said the Leopardstown racing manager Tom Burke.

The ground at the Co Dublin track is currently "soft" after 8mms of overnight rain.

The consensus among the bookmakers is that there will be three Irish-trained winners at the Cheltenham festival, compared to five last year.

Paddy Power make three Irish- trained winners their 3 to 1 favourite while Cashmans go 100-30 about the same total.

Powers are 16 to 1 about the visitors drawing a blank at Prestbury Park while Cashmans go 50 to 1 about the Irish breaking all records and notching up nine or more successes.

The best score achieved by the Irish in recent years was the seven winners in 1996 which was highlighted by Imperial Call's Gold Cup victory.

The Turf Club reported yesterday that the appeals from the connections of Davids Lad will be heard by the Appeals and Referrals Committee on Monday at 3.00 p.m.

The Grand National second favourite got a 42-day ban, which rules him out of Liverpool and Cheltenham, at Naas on Sunday where the stewards decided the racecourse had been used as a training ground.

Trainer Tony Martin received a €1,000 fine and jockey Timmy Murphy was banned for seven days, a suspension that doesn't rule him out of Cheltenham.