RACING IRISH PREVIEWS:HAVING FOUR Graded races over jumps this weekend is a sure sign of the approaching winter, but ground conditions could still be good enough for China Rock to emerge best in today's Grade Two feature at Gowran.
Just seven line up for the Gowran Park Champion Chase, including the high-class Glencove Marina, who has his first start for new trainer Eoin Griffin.
The ex-Grade One-winning hurdler was rated a future Gold Cup prospect by former handler Willie Mullins before injury intervened.
Ruby Walsh was on board when Glencove Marina bounced back with a Grade Three win last March.
Walsh knows him well and will be able to exploit any chink on China Rock, whose best form is on a sound surface and who wound up last season with a good second to Kempes at Punchestown.
Donnas Palm, the horse owned by the Grand Alliance Racing Club that includes Taoiseach Brian Cowen, has won first time out in the last two seasons and can repeat that feat in tomorrow’s Grade Two feature at Tipperary.
The Coolmore Concorde Stakes is the Group Three flat highlight at Tipperary and it could provide Juddmonte’s Emulous with a valuable winning bracket.
Joseph O’Brien has ground to make up in the apprentice jockey table, but Obligation and Seville should help his task.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and trainer Mouse Morris won their appeal against the disqualification of their maiden hurdle winner Big Game Hunter at Clonmel last Sunday at a referrals committee hearing at the Turf Club yesterday.
The Clonmel stewards placed Big Game Hunter behind the runner-up High Magic on the day as they considered he had improved his position due to causing interference.
