RACING:Last season's top Irish juveniles Hisaabaat and Ut De Sivola could clash again in Saturday's Grade Three feature at Naas. Both horses are among 11 left in the Fishery Lane Hurdle after yesterday's forfeit stage, and may end up facing Sunday's November Handicap winner Face Value, as well as Jessica Harrington's course winner Jezki.
However, the main focus will be on another clash between Hisaabaat and Ut De Sivola, who faced off four times in all last season. Ut De Sivola got the best of it initially when defeating Dermot Weld’s hope at Punchestown in January but Hisaabaat got his revenge in Grade One company at both Leopardstown and the Punchestown Festival.
Hisaabaat also did best in the Triumph Hurdle when runner-up to Countrywide Flame with Ut De Sivola unplaced. He returned to action with a run on the flat at the Curragh last month and is among the outsiders in ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle in March.
Saturday’s race could also see a rare National Hunt runner these days for top flat trainer David Wachman, who has left in the Cork winner Pageboy, fifth on his last start in the Irish Cesarewitch.
Another interesting entry at Naas is the former Cheltenham Festival hero Mikael D’Haguenet, who has been left in the Beginners Chase by trainer Willie Mullins. The gelding ran five times over fences without success during the 2010-11 season but was campaigned over flights last season.
Last year’s Drinmore Chase winner Bog Warrior is likely to be seen out again before the end of the month despite his last fence fall at Down Royal over the weekend. Bog Warrior looked beaten at the time by Cristal Bonus when crashing out. “He’s fine now. We’ll look for a race for him in three to four weeks to see if we can kick on with him,” trainer Tony Martin said yesterday.
Martin enjoyed better luck with another Grade One winner in Benefficient, who won on his second start over fences a day earlier at Down Royal.
A shock 50 to 1 winner of the Deloitte Novice Hurdle last season, the Co Meath handler said: “We’ll take it steady with him and he’ll be out again in three or four weeks too.”