If the pair of star-studded chases in Ireland, pan out as I think they will this afternoon, I could envisage the losing trainers laying down a challenge for a rematch but this time over a distance of their choosing.
For those who go strictly on the form book, Looks Like Trouble would have an obvious advantage over Florida Pearl and Dorans Pride in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal. Did he not, after all, put five lengths of daylight between himself and Florida Pearl at the finish of the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Dorans Pride a long way back in sixth place?
The catch, though, is that Florida Pearl had quickened to take the lead at the second-last fence but did not last out the extended three and a quarter miles as well as the winner. Now back to three miles on a course that does not pose the same sort of jumping test as Cheltenham, Florida Pearl has a serious chance of reversing those placings.
He showed a liking for this circuit last year when he beat Dorans Pride by a margin of two and a half lengths, but that does not fully convey the comfort with which that victory was secured.
Dorans Pride has to be at the top of his form after his flat race triumph last weekend when he beat Tryphaena to win the Leopards town November Handicap, but I can not put out of my mind the image of Paul Carberry's confident handling of Florida Pearl 12months ago.
A few minutes later, the six runners in the Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown start on their two mile journey and there will be many good judges on hand who have already formulated the possibility that next year's SunAlliance Novice Chase and Arkle Chase winners will be in opposition in the shape of Limestone Lad and Knife Edge.
Limestone Lad is the horse who this time last year interrupted the remarkable winning sequence of the three-times Champion Hurdle winner, Istabraq, as he climbed remorselessly up the Irish handicapper's table to his current mark of 163 which is the English equivalent of 180.
No one can find serious fault with the manner in which he has adapted to chasing and he is three from three this season. However, a two-mile chase calls for speed over stamina and it is in this area that Knife Edge can have the edge.
For Down Royal backers wishing to augment their tank prior to plunging on Florida Pearl (2-40) and To Your Honour (3-20), Glenbar is for the Eastwood Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.
Glenbar is a tough young filly, only rising five years of age, who won a Kilbeggan bumper over two miles three furlongs in September and then tackled three miles over hurdles at Navan and beat everything except Wicked Crack, to whom she trying to concede three years and 3lb.
Navan has pinched the lion's share of runners amongst the weekend's four fixtures, but despite the 27-runner field, do not except the layers to be over generous when pricing up the Sunday nap, Garry Lodge (1,45). He has the stamp of a chaser but before graduating he can step up on his second placing over hurdles at Galway behind Decisive Action.
At Cork on Sunday, it might be worth taking a chance with Pre Ordained in the City Life Cork Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old will relish every yard of this marathon test.
There was a shock start to Ascot's card yesterday when the much-vaunted Tik-A-Tai was beaten out of sight in the Bison Group Novices' Hurdle won by the Tony McCoy-ridden Native Emperor.
Backed down to 4-7, Tik-A-Tai looked happy enough when putting in a fine jump at the fourth-last flight but in a matter of strides he had stopped to nothing, leaving the way clear for Native Emperor. Tik-A-Tai was eventually pulled up and stewards ordered a routing dope test.
