Dorans Pride should have no more than a good blow out in Fairyhouse's £35,000 Hot Power Chase tomorrow and in the process confirm his place in the forefront of the Cheltenham Gold Cup ante-post market.
The Michael Hourigan-trained gelding was usurped from favouritism for chasing's blue riband by the Hennessy winner, Suny Bay, but those faithful whose belief in Dorans Pride remains undimmed should receive some timely vindication here.
With Klairon Davis only entered as a precaution in case today's Sandown card is called off, Dorans Pride is likely to face only four opponents, and smart though they are, the favourite should beat them if anywhere near his best.
"With Merry Gale in the race, we could get a lead and he is much better with a lead," Hourigan said yesterday. "The horse is in good form and I'm very happy with him."
Merry Gale sprang back to form with a fine defeat of Opera Hat at Naas last time, but Jeffell has been something of a disappointment recently. In the circumstances, Dorans Pride may be given most to do by the fast-jumping Corket, who is having his first run since April.
Corket, too, likes to run from the front, so Richard Dunwoody should be able to bide his time on Dorans Pride and put his head in front when it matters.
Betting at the odds Dorans Pride will start can be a risky business, and there will be more attractive odds on offer in the the Conyngham Cup. The topweight Shanagarry has been lumbered with a whopping 12st 4lb, but even with that cannot be discounted. The forecast of good ground should also help ease his burden, but it's hard not to look further down the handicap and settle on Brian's Delight as a possible solution.
Michael Cunningham's sixyear-old is only a novice but has jumped adequately in her last two starts, finishing runner-up to Kilcar here a month ago and winning at Galway in October. On both occasions, Brian's Delight has stayed on well enough to suggest she should thrive over this trip, and the presence of the competent Gordon Elliott on her back is significant, too.
Ted Walsh's string have been in superb form recently and his English import Scoss is hard to oppose in juvenile hurdle judged on his very impressive debut at Clonmel recently. Jumping well and travelling smoothly throughout, Scoss drew away for an 11length defeat of Classic Success.
An interesting opponent for Scoss will be Khairabar, talented on the flat and making his hurdling debut for Christy Roche here. Strontium was no match for Feathered Leader here last Sunday but that could well emerge as a significant piece of form, and Ken Whelan's mount is given another chance in the Gowla Novice Hurdle over Oonagh's Star, who may find this two miles just a little short.
The overnight nomination of riders will go ahead as scheduled following a meeting between the Trainers Association and Turf Club representatives.
The discussions, which were described as "very amicable", resulted in clarifications of certain points which had been of concern to the trainers.
Both sides also agreed that the new system would be closely monitored and they would meet again to review its progress at the end of January.
