Tomorrow's £45,000 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase hosts an intriguing clash between Dorans Pride and Imperial Call, two of Ireland's most legitimate Gold Cup contenders.
There are six other runners in the race and while talk of a match had the connections of the apparent main two crossing fingers and touching wood yesterday, it's not hard to imagine Dorans Pride and Imperial Call fighting out the finish. Nevertheless, Dorans Pride's trainer Michael Hourigan was taking nothing for granted yesterday. "This is no match. There is only a match when just two take part," Hourigan said who is adopting an "if we're beat, we're beat" attitude.
Dorans Pride is unbeaten in his two starts this season but Hourigan is far from having him in peak condition yet. With a possible Ericsson clash with Florida Pearl and Suny Bay coming up at Christmas and the Gold Cup in the back of his mind all the time, that's easy to understand but Dorans Pride will still be hard to beat.
"He is very well in himself and he is as fit as I want him at this stage. The track didn't suit him last time although he won and he should go well on Sunday. I won't be too upset if he is beaten because there is a good bit more to come," Hourigan said.
Imperial Call in contrast looked a fit horse when impressing under his new partner Paul Carberry at Naas a fortnight ago. The 1996 Gold Cup winner jumped with his old panache and never allowed an opponent a sniff of a winning opportunity. Whether he is back to his absolute best though is another matter and although Carberry is sure to give him another dashing ride, Dorans Pride and Richard Dunwoody are still preferred.
Dunwoody looks to be a significant booking for Manus The Man in the following handicap hurdle. The former champion jockey rode Michael Cunningham's horse to an impressive win here over a month ago and off a comparatively low weight here should go close.
The amateur's big race is the Conyngham Cup where Noel Meade's Walt is sure to be fancied. Brian's Delight can run a decent race at a decent price, however, but Meade and Paul Carberry are unlikely to leave the track empty handed.
Due to a frost forecast last night the stewards will hold a precautionary inspection at Sandown at 8.00 this morning to determine whether the meeting goes ahead.
There has been no frost in the area for the past few nights but, with the temperature set to plummet, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper and the racecourse stewards have decided to take a look at the track.
"We will cover all take-offs and landings and parts of the hill, and we will see what the night brings," said Copper yesterday.
Clever Remark, partnered by Graham Bradley, followed up his recent Towcester success with a workman-like verdict over Royal Barge in the 49's City of Exeter Challenge Bowl Handicap Chase at Exeter yesterday.
Conditional jockey Mark Griffiths booted home his sixth winner of the season with the 24-length victory of Karl Burke's North Bannister in the Haldon Selling Handicap Chase.
