With £120,000 in prize-money waiting to be picked up, owners will be praying that the forecast heavy rain isn't sufficient to make this morning's 6.30 inspection at Tipperary more than a formality.
No owner will be more anxious the eight-race card goes ahead than J P McManus, who sponsors the major prizes including the £50,000 John James McManus Memorial Hurdle, in which his brilliant novice, Istabraq makes, his reappearance.
If the rain arrives, the going will be heavy by today, although the management are "optimistic" about the meeting going ahead.
Although few horses thrive in such going, some adapt better than others, and Istabraq looks to be one of them. A brilliant five-out-of-six novice career culminated in a courageous Sun Alliance success and also a magnificent victory at Punchestown, both on ground considered to be just a little fast for him.
That will not be a concern for Istabraq today, but what will be is a very competitive field of horses proven at, or near, the top. Space Trucker was a fine third in last year's Champion Hurdle and will be a fair marker for Istabraq's Champion potential, but he will hardly thrive on this going.
The AIG winner, Cockney Lad, the good four-year-old Grimes and the prolific Native-Darrig should, in contrast, act OK on it, but considering his huge potential, it will be a surprise if Istabraq is beaten. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said yesterday: "Istabraq is in great form and working very well but a slight worry is, on testing ground, he may not quite by 100 per cent fit yet."
McManus should win his own money there but this could turn into a benefit for O'Brien on the day of his 28th birthday.
On this ground, the two miles of the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Novice Hurdle should be enough of a test of stamina for the dual hurdles winner, Promalee, to thrive. The other feature is the novice chase, where O'Brien runs both Private Peace and J P McManus's Finnegans Hollow. The latter will be ridden by Charlie Swan, but although clearly possessing abiity, Finnegans Hollow has a history of bursting blood vessels, and Private Peace has the advantage of an impressive debut over fences at Listowel. O'Brien also looks like completing a Flat double with the two-year-olds Chateau Royal and Dove Orchid.
