FOR A HORSE whose distinct preference is for soft ground, Dorans Pride is again being asked to show his best on a quick surface in today's Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. However, after his gallant third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it should be a successful adaptation for Dorans Pride this time against his fellow novices.
Those who believed Dorans Pride's Cheltenham chance disappeared when the going took on the constancy of a road were stunned to see him right in contention coming down the hill and then dourly keeping on up the final hill to be third to Mr Mulligan. For a novice, it was a fine effort. For a novice who didn't like the ground it was a remarkable one.
Today's opposition isn't as good by any means and although the trip is short of Dorans Pride's best, a more important consideration is that while the Fairyhouse ground may be drying out, it still isn't in the same desert like condition that Cheltenham was.
That is all the encouragement that trainer Michael Hourigan needs to give his stable star a last run for the season and Hourigan said yesterday: "He was very tired after Cheltenham but we've freshened him up and if anything he's in better form now than he was before Cheltenham."
Dorans Pride's opposition is hardly awe inspiring. The English challenger Bell Staffboy could finish only 10th in the Sun Alliance Chase, Corket won't like the ground and Jeffell has flattered in the past. Dorans Pride should wind up a fine first season over fences on a winning note.
Champion Hurdle form will be put to the test when Theatreworld, second to Make A Stand at Cheltenham, and Hill Society, fifth, both run today. Hill Society should find the RFL Steel Hurdle to be well within his reach but it may be worth opposing Theatreworld who has to give 16lbs to Mystical City in the Bisquit Cognac Handicap Hurdle.
Theatreworld was ridden to be placed at Cheltenham and may have been slightly flattered by his final position. Previously he had given the impression of being slightly one paced in stages of his races and Richard Dunwoody can take advantage of that on Mystical City. One of the three Willie Mullins horses in the race, Mystical City found the Coral Cup trip too far last time and on the best of her form, shown on this type of ground, the Galway Hurdle winner is near top class. She looks the value.
Eton Gale also ran in that Coral Cup and ran quite respectably to be eighth but should find the less frenetic company of the opening maiden hurdle much more to his liking. Frenetic is hardly a description that could be given either to the handicap chase but Paradise Road's best form includes a second to Tourist Attraction in a Navan maiden hurdle two years ago and could be the sort of unexposed type to take this.
I'll Say Nothing comes from a stable that has been in great form recently and is fancied to go close in the Powers Point to Point Championship Final while the other bumper on the card, the Goffs Land Rover Race, may fall to Eddie O'Grady's Smiling Always.
. John Hammond's River Bay set himself up for a potential clash with Helissio in the Prix Ganay with an easy win in the Group Two Prix Harcourt (10f) at Longchamp yesterday.
The 14 to 10 shot, settled four lengths off the pace by Thierry Jarnet, cruised into the lead over one out and ran on well for a commanding two and a half lengths win.
The Nad Al Sheba, the subject of a torrential downpour which caused the postponement of the Dubai World Cup until Thursday, is drying out well.
Two days of fine weather coupled to a helicopter flying law around the course and using the draught of its jet engines to assist in the drying out process, seem to be having the desired effect.
