Sport

Emperors best

RACING: From an Irish viewpoint perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the racing at Cheltenham this week was the dominance of…

Sat Mar 16 2002 - 00:00

RACING: From an Irish viewpoint perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the racing at Cheltenham this week was the dominance of our juvenile hurdlers. Not only did Scolardy win the JCB Triumph Hurdle but Newhall (2nd), Balapour (4th), Hyderabad (5th) and Turtleback (6th) hailed from a variety of Irish stables and training quarters.

At Limerick this afternoon top weight in the McMahon Builders Providers sponsorship, a handicap for four-year-olds over 2m, is topped by the Padddy Mullins-trained Emperors Guest, who boasts of placed form behind both Scolardy and Newhall. He was second to Scolardy at Thurles while at the earlier Christmas meeting at Leopardstown he was a fine third to Newhall.

Getting only 2lb from Emperors Guest, Starry Lady may be unable to build on her mudlarking display at Navan, where she left Carlesimo and co eight lengths behind.

Eternal Night may not be everybody's favourite but he still looks to have the winning of the Betfair.Com Fair Betting Beginners Chase.

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Pat Hughes is apt to have winners all over the place today and the pick of his Limerick team is Topacio (3.00) while at Punchestown his Mumaris (415) could be the one to bring to a close the winning sequence of An Modh Direach.

The nap is Resolute Approach (5.15) to give Davy Russell a winning mount in the Watch House Cross Flat Race.

The formline tying up Prince Of Tara (2.15) with Bannow Bay is so inviting as to defy opposition in the Athgarvan Hurdle over three miles.

Prior to his last run there was paddock gossip suggesting that Tony Martin was none too pleased with the handicapping of Falcon du Coteau. If that was the case then Noel O'Brien had the last word on the issue as Falcon du Coteau started favourite and held off Its Time For A Win by half a length.

He has gone up another 5lb since but in a handicap of the class of the two-mile Punchestown Event Centre contest, he is still loitering under 10 stone. Tony Martin is never one to overtest his horses and he can win again this time from the front- running but rather disappointing Zayta.