Racing News: Arthur Moore's star novice The Railway Man has got the green light for the Cheltenham Festival although no final decision has been taken on which race he will run in.
The Railway Man, owned by Cathal Ryan, surged to the top of the Irish novice chase class with success in last month's Grade One Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown.
Behind him in third place was the current ante-post favourite for the SunAlliance Chase, Our Ben, but despite that impressive victory Moore initially held off on committing The Railway Man to Cheltenham.
However, the Naas trainer reported yesterday: "It looks like he will go to Cheltenham but which race he will run is not definite. A decision on that won't be taken until the end of the week."
The Railway Man has an Arkle Trophy entry but is also a possible for the SunAlliance Chase for which he is quoted as low as 16 to 1 in some ante-post lists.
Another good young novice is the Michael O'Brien-trained In Compliance who impressively won on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse last weekend and could earn an Arkle place if equally impressive at Leopardstown on Sunday.
While most of the star names on show at the Dublin track will be appearing after racing, In Compliance will be in serious action after being one of 11 declared at yesterday's forfeit stage for the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Chase.
Despite his inexperience, In Compliance is currently a general 25 to 1 shot for the Arkle but will tackle a two-mile-five-furlong trip at the weekend where possible opponents include Homer Wells and Brutto Facie.
Another possible Cheltenham runner in action at the weekend will be Dermot Weld's Bob's Pride, a 40 to 1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle, who ran second to First Row at Fairyhouse last weekend.
Weld confirmed yesterday a return to the Co Meath track on Saturday is likely for the former Ballysax Stakes winner rather than waiting for Leopardstown on Sunday where he is also entered.
"It's fairly certain he will go to Fairyhouse. We will see how he gets on before deciding anything about Cheltenham. As I always say the racecourse tells all," he said.
Charlie Swan could have four runners at Cheltenham as he attempts to get off the mark at the festival as a trainer.
The man who enjoyed so much success as a jockey at the track, including a hat-trick of Champion Hurdles on Istabraq, will again run Ground Ball in the Grand Annual after the horse was runner-up to St Pirran in the race last year.
"He has been running well and we hope he can go one better," Swan said yesterday. "I also have Oodachee for the Pertemps but he could switch to the Coral Cup if the ground got soft."
One horse unlikely to make the festival though is the Grade One-placed Mossbank who is a 33 to 1 shot for the SunAlliance Hurdle.
Trainer Michael Hourigan is instead looking at next week's Michael Purcell at Thurles for the Michael O'Leary-owned horse and describes the horse as "unlikely" to travel to Britain.
Ireland's champion jockey Ruby Walsh will return to action at Newbury on Saturday after injurying his upper body in a fall at Gowran Park on January 26th.
"Ruby will be riding out during the week and will be riding at Newbury and at Leopardstown on Sunday," said his agent.
"He is doing plenty of swimming and physiotherapy and is looking forward to getting back."
The home action today is at Downpatrick where the feature is the €27,500 Powers Ulster National. This race sees Like A Bee return to the three-and-a-half-mile trip he ran over at Punchestown and the way he finished at Navan suggests Christy Roche's horse is worth another shot at the distance.
Paul Nolan makes the long journey from Wexford with a team of seven horses including Dix Villez in the feature. His best chances, however, might be in the bumper with Kilpedder who ran second in a point-to-point at Carrigtwohill in January and the topweight Carrig An Uisce in the handicap hurdle.
