Racing Punchestown previews: The spluttering stop-start nature of the jumps season up to now can be forgotten as Punchestown tomorrow welcomes some of the top names in the country, including Ireland's main Champion Hurdle hope Back In Front.
The Edward O'Grady-trained star has already had a run at Tipperary over a month ago, but this weekend's Mongey Communications Morgiana Hurdle really will be a test of Back In Front's championship ambitions.
The Supreme Novices winner is as low as 8 to 1 third favourite for Cheltenham with Paddy Power, but tomorrow's Morgiana has brought Ireland's top hurdlers into early opposition.
None more so than Back In Front's stable companion Sacundai, himself a 20 to 1 shot for the Champion Hurdle and as low as 10 to 1 for the Stayers' crown. The only Irish horse lower in the betting for the latter race is Solerina (8 to 1), who makes her first start since picking up an injury in February.
Throw in last weekend's November Handicap winner, Scottish Memories, and this will be a race to keep in mind for the rest of the season.
Scottish Memories thrives on quick ground, and although the Punchestown authorities reported just 8 mm of overnight rain yesterday and official "good to yielding" going, it may still not be lively enough to be ideal for the Meade runner.
The James Bowe camp insist that Solerina will badly need the run, and the outing should also be beneficial to Sacundai, whose finest hour came when he beat Rooster Booster at Aintree.
Richard Johnson's dropped whip undoubtedly helped that day, but Sacundai is clearly high class.
Nevertheless, this looks an ideal opportunity for Back In Front. With a run under his belt, and over his ideal trip, he can kick off his new partnership with Barry Geraghty in style.
Geraghty will also be anxiously looking forward to the return of Kicking King, runner-up to Back In Front at Cheltenham, who makes his chasing debut in the Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase.
It's a big ask for the horse who will be having just his eighth career start against experienced runners, like Golden Row, but it's significant that Kicking King is already 10 to 1 second favourite for the Arkle Trophy with Cashmans.
Kicking King's stable companion Emotional Moment makes his debut over fences in the Grade Three Irish Field Chase, but this looks one case where experience can prove vital.
Satco Express hated the fast ground at Cork but still won out by 25 lengths from Blame The Ref. This surface should suit much better and the trip will be right up his alley.
Pantarez hasn't run over hurdles, and hasn't run since Galway in July, but still features in the Triumph Hurdle ante-post betting at 40 to 1. The ex-French Monjoyau also earned the same quote for a narrow victory at Galway, but David Wachman has long regarded Pantarez as a potential smart jumper.
If Charlie Swan has sorted out Arellano's jumping in the 16 months he has been off, then the handicap hurdle would be a tasty option for the former star flat operator.
