Tavern Times can complete fairytale for the Russells

REST OF TODAY'S MEETING:HOPES OF an Irish St Patrick's Day winner might have to wait until quite late but Tavern Times can make that wait worthwhile with an emotional success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Tavern Times is the horse that once provoked jockey Davy Russell and trainer Tom Mullins to compete against each other in a sales ring but he can now provide both men with one of the highlights of their careers.

Originally Russell was hoping to buy the young Tavern Times as a present for his father, Jerry, but found himself bidding against both Mullins and Paul Duffin, ironically an owner he rides for regularly. Duffin had the final bid but offered a share to Russell who promptly gave it as a present to his Dad.

“I wanted my Dad to have a real nice horse,” the jockey remembers. Russell Snr certainly looks to have got one.

Tavern Times won his sole start to date at Fairyhouse in October when he overcame some trouble in running to win impressively. Today’s Grade One has been the target since and being by Presenting he should relish the ground conditions.

The Irish have failed to win the Bumper on just three occasions and there is a typically strong challenge again this year with Willie Mullins – looking for a seventh win – represented by three runners, including the progressive Bishopsfurze.

Dermot Weld will be doubly represented while, in terms of pre-festival performances, there’s little doubt that Shot From The Hip’s display at Leopardstown less than three weeks ago was hugely impressive.

However, on ground conditions that will be a lot different to what most of these have been coping with all winter, Tavern Times may represent a touch of value.

Dermot Weld’s other big interest today will centre on Rite Of Passage who along with Quel Esprit leads a six-strong Irish challenge into the Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle.

Rite Of Passage, who is closely related to the legendary mare Dahlia, is a potential Group horse on the flat later in 2010 based on a spectacular November Handicap success last year. He could be different class to these but that’s an argument based on his flat potential rather than anything achieved in two starts over hurdles to date.

The Weld horse could hardly do anymore than win both times and he holds a leading chance of becoming his trainer’s first Cheltenham festival winner in 20 years. But his odds hold little appeal in the circumstances.

Quel Esprit is a true National Hunt bred for whom stamina won’t be a problem but the going may not play to his strengths so a better option could be Finian’s Rainbow, a young horse very highly thought of by Barry Geraghty who possesses a progressive profile.

A bumper winner on good ground last year, Finian’s Rainbow was third to Reve di Sivola in the Challow during the winter but Nicky Henderson is not convinced he had his horse fully wound up that day and even Dermot Weld admits to having been impressed by Finian’s Rainbow’s subsequent success at Ascot.

Henderson goes into the RSA Chase with two potential superstars in Punchestowns and Long Run.

Runner-up to Big Bucks in the World Hurdle last year, Punchestowns is unbeaten in two starts over fences while the ex-French Long Run has made a spectacular impression since arriving in Britain.

“Punchestowns has high class form over hurdles and you would think he is good enough for most RSA’s,” Henderson said yesterday.

“But I am lucky enough to also have a freakishly talented horse called Long Run. It’s almost frightening how good he is at this stage of his career. I really can’t split the two.”

Long Run’s jumping needs to fully adapt though to the British and Irish style, plus he is ridden by the owner’s son Sam Waley-Cohen, a good amateur who is in against the big boys now.

Willie Mullins has had disagreements with the English handicapper over the years but Deutschland looks to have been given a shout in a Coral Cup that might ultimately end up going to James de Vassey who is worth forgiving his last two starts on heavy ground.

The Fred Winter is a tricky heat but Sanctuaire is an unexposed French horse whose sole start for Paul Nicholls yielded an impressive victory at Taunton. He could be ahead of this particular game.

Brian O'Connor's Festival Selections

1.30 Presenting Forever

2.05 Finian’s Rainbow (Nap)

2.40 Punchestowns

3.20 Master Minded

4.00 James de Vassy

4.40 Sanctuaire (double)

5.15 Tavern Times

Tony Sweeney's three to follow

1-30: When it comes to longevity all the other events at Cheltenham – even the Gold Cup – are tom tiddlers compared to this "Amateurs Grand National". The National Hunt Chase, despite wartime interruptions, is celebrating its 140th birthday. My each way selection Abbeybraney's first win came in a bumper at Tramore four years ago. Last time out he scored over fences at Hexham.

3-20: Ruby Walsh has long been enthusiastic about the likelihood of Master Mindedcompleting a hat-trick for Paul Nicholls and himself in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and his confidence looked thoroughly justified when he was cantering between the last two fences at Newbury. Disaster almost struck at the final jump but he still won by a wide margin. This event is one made for repeat successes and Irish trainers who won it two years in a row include Tom Dreaper, Brian Lusk and Peter McCreery.

5-15: There was, however, a spell in the late 1980s when Irish successes at Cheltenham became so scarce that there were fears the Irish would stop going.

To rectify the situation a first bumper was added to the programme and of all the races during the week this is the one tailor made for our horses. Drumbaloo, trained by J J Lambe, carries the nap on the back of a bumper hat-trick.