The Christmas extravaganza kicks off on St Stephen's Day, and while professionals may regard the highlight of the meeting as Florida Pearl's clash with Suny Bay and Dorans Pride on Monday, the likely huge crowd on Saturday will have the pleasure of a very good race in the £40,000 Dennys Gold Medal Novices Chase.
Some of the best young chasers in the country take each other on, but even with the likes of Promalee, Feathered Leader and Native Estates in opposition, it will be a disappointment if the giant His Song doesn't put on a winning show for the crowd.
Still only a five-year-old, His Song has nonetheless been regarded as something of a great white hope for some time. His hurdling career did nothing to blight that impression, and two wins in his first two starts over fences only reinforced the view.
Thus it was something of a kick in the teeth when His Song, owned by the British Davis Cup Tennis captain David Lloyd, was beaten by the English-trained outsider Gutteridge at Punchestown in early November. Excuses were immediately put forward regarding the trip, but the real reason for that defeat was found in His Song's lungs, where an infection had developed. Thankfully, His Song's trainer Mouse Morris now reports a clean bill of health.
"I couldn't be happier with him," Morris said. "I won't say I'm confident he will win, because when you get cocky you get shot down, but I'm very happy with his condition. He had to take it easy for 10 days while we dealt with the infection, but he won't lack for fitness. He gets weight from the others because he is only five, but I'm not complaining about that." Shay Barry takes over in the plate from the King George-engaged Tony McCoy, but this excellent steeplechase rider is sure to give His Song a decisive drive. He will need to, because there are some talented horses just waiting to take advantage.
Promalee was a totally convincing winner from His Song's stable companion Foxchapel King at Fairyhouse, but could just be vulnerable over this shorter trip. Micko's Dream is another who looks like he prefers longer than two miles, while Lanturn will hardly relish very soft ground.
Feathered Leader has a big reputation, but he has yet to win over fences and a bigger danger to His Song could emerge in the shape of the classy Native Estates, who jumped well at Navan last time behind Rince Ri. That horse was ridden by Ruby Walsh, and the season's leading rider can widen the gap between himself and Paul Carberry in the table even further with a double.
Walsh currently leads Carberry by four (56 to 52), but that could widen courtesy of Golden Rule in the Denny Juvenile Hurdle and his father's Scoss in the handicap hurdle.
Frances Crowley's Golden Rule looked something a bit special when dancing up on his hurdling debut, but then couldn't cope with Miss Emer at Fairyhouse. Golden Rule, a Stakes winner on the flat, is still a very exciting recruit to jumping, however, and should strip a bit sharper for the race which is the main winter event for Irish juveniles. Dermot Weld's Simulacrum also comes into calculations, but Golden Rule is the selection. Simulacrum's stable-mate Gordi makes an interesting jumping debut in the opener, but after being once considered a red-hot prospect for the classic English St Leger, this horse's form has tended to trail away. If he takes to this game he will be hard to beat, but on what we have seen recently, Native Upmanship could be a better option. A Punchestown bumper winner, Native Upmanship was no match for Alexander Banquet and Cardinal Hill at Fairyhouse last time, but this is more realistic opposition.
Aidan O'Brien can keep his hand in at his old National Hunt game with a double also. Hang 'Em High, runner-up on the flat last time, can beat Admiral Wings in the maiden hurdle, but the performance of Give It Holly in the bumper will be particularly interesting. There should be improvement on his debut third to Site-Leader over the course and distance in October.
