RACING/Previews and News: NewsQuite the most informative race this week will be the Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow. A number of the Graded jumping races this winter have provided lobsided betting heats but that is not a criticism that can be levelled at this Grade Three race which is confined to those that have won their first race over hurdle's since May 1st.
The only maiden in the seven runners is Glamorous Leader and amongst the multiple winners are Barrow Drive and Over The Bar, both of whom have already won at Grade Three level.
Since late in August Barrow Drive has provided a richly rewarded session trotting up in four consecutive races, two bumpers and two hurdle events. His jumping at Cork was not foot perfect but Ira Hayes who won a sound maiden hurdle at Navan was beaten a distance into second place.
J P McManus's Over The Bar has so far lived up to his name and while there were those who were a shade disappointed by the narrowness of his winning margin over Pietro Vanucci in the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle at Navan, the two of them were still a full 15 lengths ahead of Bassett Tiger (third).
Furthermore Pietro Vannuci was afterwards a close second to Like-A-Butterfly at Leopardstown and even conceding 3lb to Barrow Drive, he will provide a genuine test. The presence in the line up of such as Woodys Blue Lagoon and Davenport Milenium will guarantee that it will not be just a two- horse betting market.
The jumping scene in Wexford has secured a fresh lease of life producing local trainers like Philip Rothwell whose Jacksons Gold is in fine form.
Can a sprinter get two miles over hurdles at Naas? That is the poser facing early comers as Paddy Mullins introduces Tender Cove to jumping. He is a high class handicapper and it is a gamble worth taking.
Fairyhouse seemed doomed to a clash no matter when it ran off its first meeting in 2002. The called off New Year's Day meeting would have taken on Tramore and today's postponed fixture is up against Cork.
The one bright side to the issue is that barring a hugely wrong call on the part of the Met Office, racing now does looked guaranteed and there will no waiting on the final call for the outcome of any stewards' inspection.
Dermot Weld who once again had a highly profitable season contiues a long-term habit of having a few quality jumpers to keep the stable staff interested through the winter.
Murrayfield delivered for him at Leopardstown and Creux Noir should to give him a flying start to the New Year.
He was offered for sale at the 1999 Newmarket Autumn Sales but Weld bought him back for what now looked a very reasonable 27,000 guiness.
He scored three times on the flat and over hurdles in 2000 and last year beat Masnada at Leopardstown in October.
He is on the sort of handicap hurdle mark that looks very fair indeed. Creux Noir was ridden by a 5lb claimer at Leopardstown and now Barry Geraghty takes over. Barry has double prospects as Oa Baldixe is set to win for the first time over fences in the following race.
This is a horse that Noel Meade thinks has the making of a three- mile handicapper over fences.
Ruby Walsh and Charlie Swan desert Fairyhouse for Cork and both should emerge with winners.
Walsh's best prospects Jasmin D'Oudairies and Minella Hotel come courtesy of Willie Mullins and Frances Crowley respectively while Swan has a choice number in Pat Hughes's smooth Leopardstown winner Pollster.
