NO IRISH trained horse has managed to win the Ladbroke Hurdle in the seven years since it left Leopardstown but Cuan Na Grai leads a three-strong challenge to try to make it eighth time lucky at Ascot this afternoon.
Paddy Flood teams up with the Paul Nolan-trained horse and the pair already have a history of big race success together having landed the Galway Hurdle in the summer of 2006.
Noel Meade's Sky Hall and Mourne Rambler from Tony Martin's yard complete the Irish challenge on the €160,000 event for which the potential Champion Hurdle hope Ashkazar tops the weights.
Irish trained runners will also be in action at Wolverhampton tonight and Michael Halford and Rory Cleary travel to Lingfield's all-weather this afternoon for Sinntaran in a 10-furlong handicap.
The electrical giant Toshiba have stepped into the vacancy left by AIG and will sponsor the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown next month, writes Brian O'Connor.
On the back of the current global economic crisis, 16 years of AIG sponsorship ended leaving Leopardstown looking for new sponsors.
TOS Ireland, who distribute Toshiba products here, have filled the gap although the €120,000 prize fund for the race will be €30,000 lower than when Sizing Europe won last year. The race will now be known as the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle and will be run on January 25th.
Connections of Exotic Dancer are mulling over whether to contest the Lexus Chase or the Stan James King George VI Chase over Christmas.
The frequent runner-up to Kauto Star could avoid his old foe if he heads to Ireland, having finished second and third in the last two runnings of the Kempton showpiece.
Now eight, he ran well on his reappearance to be second in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and put in another brave effort for a third-placed finish in the Betfair Chase last time.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He'll be left in the King George but he is also in the Lexus and I will have to talk to Barry Simpson (racing manager to the owner Robert Ogden) before we make a decision." Exotic Dancer is one of 13 possibles for the Lexus, with 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition the pick of the home team.
