RACING: Commanche Court remains as low as 12 to 1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup despite a desperate struggle to win at Navan yesterday.
Starting at 1 to 3 against his stable companion Papillon and a pair of Noel Meade runners that were a stone and 21lb out of the handicap respectively, Commanche Court was all out to win by half a length.
Indeed, there were plenty willing to argue that only a last fence mistake by Kings Valley let in last season's Gold Cup runner-up.
The bookmakers weren't listening, however, and trainer Ted Walsh didn't seem too concerned by the display either.
"They didn't go a great gallop and the better the ground the better he'll be. I'm not happy, nor disappointed. He might take another run or a serious piece of work," he said.
Commanche Court could now run in another handicap at Leopardstown in two weeks time.
Emotional Moment made up for his Newbury disappointment the previous weekend with a resounding success in the McCabe Boyne Hurdle.
Balloted out of the Tote Gold Trophy, the Tom Taaffe-trained horse effortlessly bridged the gap to Grade Two company and set himself up for Cheltenham.
Taaffe nominated the Coral Cup, for which Emotional Moment is an 8 to 1 co-favourite with Cashmans, with a soft ground alternative option in the County Hurdle.
"He is quick enough for two miles and stays three miles. He's no Limestone Lad but he's the only other one I know that can do that," Taaffe said.
"What happened last weekend was just racing. I'm just delighted to win any race. Mind you, it's just as well since he has been raised 2lb for going over to Newbury and coming back," he added.
Emotional Moment was an easy five lengths ahead of Over The Bar and jockey Barry Geraghty had an equally stress-free success on Supreme Developer in the first division of the maiden hurdle.
Hitherto disappointing over hurdles, Supreme Developer put himself back into the SunAlliance picture with his defeat of Tandys Bridge.
"Barry told me he is a different horse on drier ground. It half puts him back in the picture for the SunAlliance and if he had jumped the last well he would have won on the bridle," trainer Tony Mullins said.
Mullins also reported Barrow Drive on course for the SunAlliance Chase and said: "I don't care about Keen Leader and the rest. My horse is dead reliable and jumps."
McGruders Cross doubled up for Mullins when booking his Cheltenham ticket with an all the way win in the bumper. "He was very impressive, I thought. He'll go to Cheltenham I'm sure. I thought I had better than him but I don't think so now," he said.
There weren't too many other hints for the Cheltenham novice chase events available yesterday.
Schwartzhalle was the 14 to 1 outsider for the Flyingbolt Chase but made most to beat Rathgar Beau by half a length with the favourite Stage Affair in third.
"He was quite ordinary over hurdles but is a different horse over fences," said the winner's trainer David Harvey.
Dermot Weld expressed satisfaction with Stage Affair's jumping on his first chase start and added: "He'll run in a novice chase in the coming weeks and the Arkle is in the back of our minds."
The Premier Cat made all to score in the Ten Up Chase but will not be travelling to the SunAlliance. "I had been thinking about the Midlands National but I don't think he will be travelling this year. He will improve a lot for another summer. I wouldn't be afraid of any fence with him as he's a very clean jumper," said trainer Tom Cahill.
