NEWS ROUND-UP:ANY EXCUSES about a lack of pace look likely to be rare after Sunday's Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle, as both the title-holder, Sizing Europe, and another winner, Brave Inca, are set to be accompanied by stable companions in the €120,000 Leopardstown feature.
The 2006 hero Brave Inca, a well-backed second favourite in recent days, was joined by two stable companions, Allez Petit Luis and Swiftmarc, in the entry of 13 possible runners left in at yesterday’s forfeit stage.
Brave Inca’s trainer, Colm Murphy, felt a lack of pace in the early stages of the December Festival Hurdle over the course and distance at Christmas hurt his stable star, and he didn’t rule out running the three of them on Sunday.
“Swiftmarc will probably run at Gowran on Thursday and then we will see how he is,” he said yesterday. “There is a chance both he and Allez Petit Luis could run on Sunday if the race looks like breaking up because of the ground.”
As expected, Sizing Europe’s trainer, Henry De Bromhead, also left Oscillating Oscar in the Champion Hurdle, and he has already outlined how the maiden could guarantee a decent pace if nothing else goes on.
De Bromhead also felt a lack of pace in the Festival Hurdle won by Sublimity at Christmas didn’t suit Sizing Europe, who was an eight-length winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle last year when it was sponsored by AIG.
Sublimity has been installed as low as 5 to 2 favourite to follow up on Sunday, but the current heavy ground conditions at Leopardstown have seen Brave Inca backed down to 100 to 30 second favourite, and he is disputing favouritism on some of the exchanges.
“The way I look at it you can’t say he won’t go on the ground,” Murphy said, “but you can’t say the same about some of the others. It plays to our strengths, as it could become a test of stamina and we know he goes on it.”
“I’m a lot happier going into Sunday than I was the last day. All that talk of ‘bounce’ was around then after having had a hard race first time back. But he has had a couple of runs now and is as fit as I can get him,” he added.
Sublimity’s trainer, Robbie Hennessy, has more ground concerns than Murphy and could leave a decision until late about the participation of the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner.
“If I could pick ground for Sunday it would be good but we are not going to get that. He goes on soft. However, I would not like him to have a very hard race on heavy and turn it into a slog with Cheltenham just six weeks away,” he said.
“If it was heavy we would probably leave a decision to the last minute. But I don’t think it will be heavy as Leopardstown is a good draining track and the forecast is not bad,” Hennessy added.
The last three winners of the Irish Champion Hurdle could line up on Sunday with the 2007 victor, Hardy Eustace, also among the 13, along with the former Grade One winner Silent Oscar, who is returning from a long absence, and Muirhead, who is the sole remaining Noel Meade-trained entry in the race.
Sunday’s other Grade One highlight, the Arkle Challenge Cup, has just seven horses remaining in it, including Oliver McKiernan’s Follow The Plan, who landed the Durkan New Homes over the course and distance at Christmas.
He is joined by a trio of Willie Mullins trained hopefuls – Jayo, Cooldine and Golden Silver – as well as last year’s Deloitte winner Forpadydeplasterer.
Paul Nolan’s Alpha Ridge is one of 15 in the Grade Two Synergy Security Services Novices Hurdle, but also holds an entry in a Grade Two at Doncaster on Saturday over three miles.
Jessica Harrington’s claiming jockey Mark Bolger has been booked to ride the sole English raider, Eric’s Charm, in tomorrow’s Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.
“Tony McCoy and Dominic Elsworth recommended him and I rang Jessie to make sure it was okay,” said Lambourn trainer Oliver Sherwood.
“There are a couple of reasons we are running. I’ve always maintained he is better right-handed and there are not a lot of races for him over here right now. The ground will be testing, which he will love.”
IRISH CHAMPION HURDLE BETTING
Paddy Power:11-4 Sublimity, 100-30 Brave Inca, 7-2 Sizing Europe, 9-2 Muirhead, 10 Hardy Eustace, 11 Won In The Dark, 16 River Liane, 20 Bar.
Cashmans:5-2 Sublimity, 11-4 Brave Inca, 7-2 Sizing Europe, 9-2 Muirhead, 12 Hardy Eustace, 20 Bar.
