RACING: Teenager John Allen will be entrusted with the Cheltenham ride on Dromlease Express, one of the main Irish fancies of the entire festival in the Coral Cup.
Allen, 19 and from Kilworth in Co Cork, had only his 12th career success when Dromlease Express landed some significant bets in last month's Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown. Despite that, and his lack of experience at Cheltenham, Allen, now a 5lb claimer, will again take the reins on the Charles Byrnes-trained horse who hasn't appeared since that resounding Pierse success.
Out of sight doesn't mean out of mind however and Dromlease Express has remained a clear favourite for the two miles and five furlong handicap, with bookmakers mindful of how Xenophon completed the Pierse-Coral Cup double last year. "The plan was always to go straight to Cheltenham. Things are going along fine with the horse and the only thing I'm concerned about is if the ground got too fast. If it got to being on the fast side of good I would be worried about running him," said Brynes yesterday.
The Ballingarry, Co Limerick-based trainer will also be represented in the Cathcart Cup by his stable stalwart Cloudy Bays who initiated a famous double on Pierse day by winning the Leopardstown Chase. "We haven't sorted out riding arrangements yet but we won't be changing anything with Dromlease. He (Allen) hasn't ridden there before but he hadn't ridden in the Pierse Hurdle before either and didn't do too badly," he added.
One thing Byrnes is not too happy about though is the handicap mark Dromlease Express is now on and he said: "What he put him up after the Pierse was fair enough but giving him 5lb extra then was very harsh." The form of the Pierse race has been repeatedly boosted since with the runner-up Macs Joy controversially disqualified from a victory at Leopardstown and Georges Girl following up an AIG second with a Grade Two success at Gowran.
Another trainer eagerly awaiting the festival is Tom Taaffe, who yesterday gave an upbeat report on the Arkle Trophy second favourite Kicking King. "I'm very happy with him and everything is going according to plan so far. His form is there for all to see and it is holding up. I'm very hopeful he'll run a good race. Everything is a danger but as long as my horse is fit and well on the day, I can't ask for more," he said.
Ireland's racecourses are looking ahead to a post-Cheltenham world where smoking will be banned in workplaces from March 29th. The Association of Irish Racecourses is planning to send out a circular to its members in the next few days outlining their responsibilities under the new legislation.
"I don't think it is going to be as big a problem as some people think," assured the AIR chief executive Paddy Walsh yesterday before dismissing fears that even smoking on the steps of racecourse grandstands could be outlawed.
"The rules are quite explicit and as long as not over 50 per cent of a structure is walled in then people will be free to smoke," he said.
RTÉ will broadcast an hour long documentary on Dermot Weld on Tuesday at 10.15pm.
