RACING/Fairyhouse Preview: Tomorrow's Newlands Chase at Naas takes on even more significance for Commanche Court following the news that his stable companion, Rince Ri, will miss the rest of the season.
RACINGBy Brian O'Connor
The former Irish Grand National winner is now Ted Walsh's only hope for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory and has his warm -up for the festival over the minimum two-mile trip.
Walsh will be hoping Commanche Court, who misses out on today's Racing Post Chase at Kempton in favour of this, can do enough to justify a Gold Cup trip and make up for the news on Rince Ri.
"He is out of commission. He got a colic that required surgery on Thursday evening. Everything went well but we won't know for a couple of weeks. It's disappointing but that's the way it is," Walsh said yesterday.
Rince Ri had been as low as 16 to 1 for the Gold cup with Ladbrokes after a Pillar Chase victory and a Hennessy third on his last two starts.
Commanche Court's main rival tomorrow is likely to be Knife Edge, who is a generally priced 9 to 1 fourth favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This trip is ideal for the double course and distance winner and he should be hard to beat.
Norman Williamson gets a first feel of the SunAlliance Chase hope Colonel Braxton in the Nas Na Riogh Chase and the 7 to 1 Cheltenham hope can start making up for lost time.
Colonel Braxton missed the Moriarty due to a low blood count but trainer Dessie Hughes said: "It might have been for the best. The horses who ran in the Moriarty had very hard races."
Colonel Braxton's sole start this season was a neck second to Give Over in the Neville at Christmas and he should now be at a stage to cope with Youlneverwalkalone, whose own festival claims are on the line.
The other Graded race is the Johnstown Novice Hurdle, where Petersham gets what looks like a significant 12lb from the topweight Over The Bar.
Knife Edge's stable mate looked to lose a winning opportunity when a bad mistake at the second last caused him to lose his rider at Navan last month but this looks like it could be suitable compensation.
It's a Gimme started favourite at Gowran last time only to go down to Crusset by three lengths. The Ripon and Newcastle winner, Steinitz, is an interesting newcomer in this but It's a Gimme is probably the safest bet.
A forecast of sleet and snow prompted Musselburgh to call a precautionary inspection for this morning. "We have no problem at the moment but we have been told to expect sleet or snow tonight." said racecourse manager Bill Farnsworth yesterday.
