Sir Des Champs set to show his credentials

JP McMANUS has less than €150,000 in hand of Michael O’Leary in the race for the owners championship which winds up on Saturday but the Ryanair boss looks to have a couple of Grade One chances to substantially eat into that margin today.

Sir Des Champs is already a 6 to 1 ante-post favourite for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and if he can’t make a successful first step up to top-flight company in the Growise Champion Novice Chase then it won’t be just the Ryanair boss who’s left reeling.

O’Leary’s Gigginstown team also look to have a hot-pot for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in Trifolium who won’t have any problems with testing ground conditions and is officially rated 3lb superior to his apparent main rival Alderwood who just happens to be owned by McManus.

The latter is throwing nine horses at today’s action, including a bumper newcomer from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard, while O’Leary has half a dozen in total.

However, in quality terms Gigginstown look to have a distinct first-day festival edge and should they land the two Grade One’s they will have secured the guts of a hundred grand in win money alone.

Sir Des Champs is very much the star attraction and will be long odds on to make it seven out of seven since joining Willie Mullins from his native France.

He was silky smooth when landing the Jewson at Cheltenham and is at the forefront of a new generation of potential top-notch staying novices.

“I’m happy he’s in good shape and I wouldn’t be worried about the ground for him, he should be fine,” said Mullins who is looking for a seventh leading-trainer title at the festival.

Just four line-up against Sir Des Champs in what is an all-Irish contest and while Mossey Joe is something of an unknown quantity, it will be a major shock if the favourite can’t win.

Trifolium may not be quite as hot a hotpot but he also faces just four opponents, including a trio of Willie Mullins runners, and ground conditions look to have turned in his favour. Trifolium was very impressive here on heavy ground last February and did much the best of the Irish in the Supreme at Cheltenham when third to Cinders And Ashes.

The runner-up Daralan boosted that form at Aintree and the overall shape of Trifolium’s profile makes him a better proposition than the County winner Alderwood who successfully stepped up to Grade Two company at Fairyhouse.

There is €100,000 up for grabs in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper where Nina Carberry is on Noel Meade’s newcomer Curley Bill while the top amateur rider is on The Big Easy in the concluding bumper.

Ceol Rua disappointed at Fairyhouse but that was on good ground and conditions will be different now. Willie Mullins, winner of a remarkable dozen races at the 2010 festival, can also be on the mark with the good hunter Boxer Georg in the opener.