Racing News round-up: Paul Carberry has confirmed he will ride Golden Cross in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle as the Irish challenge for the opening day festival highlight starts to take shape.
Back In Front's defection means Spirit Leader is now the shortest priced of the Irish contenders in the ante-post market at a general 12 to 1 and that Barry Geraghty will again team up with the Jessica Harrington-trained mare.
Last year's winner Rooster Booster dominates the betting after his Tote Gold Trophy effort but that isn't stopping hopes of just a second Irish-trained horse in the last 20 years coming out on top in hurdling's top prize.
Carberry rode Golden Cross in a 10-furlong spin after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday and yesterday decided he will ride the Michael Halford-trained horse who created a 66 to 1 shock over Christmas.
"He must have some chance on his form at Christmas but it also looks like Rooster Booster will be very hard to beat," the champion jockey said. Golden Cross went well enough on Sunday and I'm happy to ride him."
Willie Mullins again indicated yesterday that Timmy Murphy will be on board his championship hope Davenport Milenium after Ruby Walsh's decision to stick with the Paul Nicholls-trained second favourite Rigmarole. "It looks that way and like all of mine that worked on Sunday, Davenport Milenium came out of it well," the Co Carlow trainer said.
Davenport Milenium worked with a group of horses that included the star novice Sadlers Wings who still could go for either the SunAlliance Hurdle or the shorter Supreme over two miles.
"I think I'll leave it another week before I make a decision. I want to see what happens in the meantime," said Mullins who also hasn't yet firmed up riding plans for his ultra-strong Champion Bumper team.
"I have a few jockeys of my own and a few on standby but I will leave it until I have a fair idea of what is going," he said.
Edward O'Grady has described the SunAlliance Chase contender Pizarro as his number one hope for the festival after admitting defeat in his attempts to get Back In Front back in time from a bout of lameness.
"He has improved but he is not 100 per cent sound and you can't go unless you are 100 per cent right. Maybe we will have him for Punchestown," O'Grady said.
The Co Tipperary admitted to being "hugely upset" when discovering Back In Front's problem last week as he had never before won a Champion Hurdle.
Only Istabraq, the triple hero from 1998-2000, has won the big race for Ireland since Dawn Run in 1984.
Istabraq's rider Charlie Swan reports his Triumph Hurdle hope Hasanpour back on track for the festival after Sunday's workout at Leopardstown.
Hasanpour won impressively on his debut but then flopped in his only subsequent hurdles start. Swan also hopes to run Ground Ball in one of the chase handicaps at Cheltenham.
