Swan set to clear the 1,000 obstacle

Champion jockey Charlie Swan goes into this weekend within touching distance of a career landmark. Swan needs just one more success to bring his total of winners over jumps to a remarkable 1,000. It will be another major achievement for the Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, rider in a career which is already filled with highlights.

Assured already of a ninth consecutive jockeys title, this has been an especially memorable season for Swan, highlighted by Istabraq's Champion Hurdle victory. Last September in Listowel, Swan's career total, including the flat, hit the 1,000 mark when Rainbow Frontier won. But in the toughest game of all, 1,000 winners over obstacles in Ireland would be a momentous achievement.

The big question now is which horse will be the vehicle for that achievement.

Today at Navan he has two chances in what is a tricky, mixed card. Swan rides John Kiely's newcomer Take Five in the Newgrange Maiden Hurdle, but it will be Master Of Milltown which is likely to carry the champion's main hopes in the Rossnaree Handicap Hurdle.

Aidan O'Brien's gelding justified favouritism in good style in a Down Royal maiden hurdle last time, but, significantly, that was on good ground and he may be worth opposing on today's officially forecast "soft to heavy".

Indeed few horses actually relish running in such testing going, but some adapt better than others and it could be worth chancing Foyle Wanderer once more. This mare has been rather frustrating to follow, but she's proven on the ground, can quicken at the end of her races and has the talented Francis Berry on her back today.

The Listowel bumper winner How Ran On looks best of a poor looking bunch in the maiden hurdle, but for the nap Aidan O'Brien's Bianconi looks the safest bet in the opening five furlong maiden.

It is a slight worry that O'Brien's horses have appeared to need a run in the early part of the season, but, against that, Bianconi is regarded as potentially a smart sprinter.