RICHARD DUNWOODY has agreed to ride Chiefs Song in Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown, much to the delight of trainer Simon Dow. The in-form Irishman had several offers in the race, but told Dow he was available on Saturday.

"You wouldn't want anyone else if you could pick them," said the Epsom trainer. Dunwoody partnered Chiefs Song to a hard fought victory in the 22-runner William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown last month.

And Dow reported the six-year-old around a 16 to 1 shot for Saturday in fine form for Leopardstown. "He is in really tip-top condition and travels over on Friday."

Chiefs Song is owned by Co Clare-born Sean Devine who also hopes Dunwoody will be riding his Dow-trained Shoofk in the two mile Fitzpatrick Hurdle on the same card.

Michael Cunningham is hoping the going will be heavy for his Ladbroke hope Derrymoyle and the indications are that it will be very testing. Derrymoyle, who finished second in last year's renewal, stays so well that he would be at a disadvantage in a helter skelter on lively ground.

Cunningham has his horses in good form, and at Punchestown today he runs Kalona with decent prospects in the Carrick Hill Handicap Chase. Kalona was the second leg of a Cunningham-trained double at Down Royal on New Year's Day when eased near home to win by eight lengths. Prior to that he beat Topical Tip at Navan, form well advertised by the latter's subsequent wins at Leopardstown and Naas. I doubt if soft-ground specialist Lord Signapore will manage to give over a stone and a half to Kalona.

Steel Dawn, the better for his run in a handicap hurdle at Thurles in November, is an interesting newcomer to fences in the Beginners Chase. Ronnie Curran's nine-year-old ran well to finish fourth behind Allegation over hurdles at Cheltenham on St Patrick's Day and twice performed well at the 1994 Festival.

Taniyar will have a chance to redeem his reputation sullied by the dismal showing of his stand-in Loch Style - at Lingfield on Saturday in the Tyrone Maiden.

And the bay gelding, who stood in his box for most of the afternoon during the much publicised Southwell mix-up yesterday, will not, contrary to popular rumour, be travelling alone to the track. "No we won't be taking just the one horse in the box down to Lingfield and I don't know what coloured horses will be with him," said Reg Hollinshead yesterday.