Sunday's Previews: Roger Loughran made headlines for all the wrong reasons during Christmas, but the jockey reunites with Central House at Punchestown tomorrow and will be keen to put past mistakes behind him.
Just five line up for the Byrne Group Tied Cottage Chase, including the star novice Accordion Etoile and Watson Lake, who is as low as 12 to 1 to score in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month.
Despite that, most attention is still likely to be on Loughran, who blew the perfect opportunity to make an immediate impression on the professional ranks by mistaking the winning post on Central House in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.
A subsequent 14-day ban meant he wasn't available for the horse's subsequent start at Fairyhouse, where Central House, ridden by Paul Carberry, picked up a slight injury when last behind Fota Island.
Dessie Hughes and owner John Kenny haven't hesitated, however, to put Loughran back on.
"Roger will be back on board. He gets on well with the horse and we will see how he gets on this Sunday," said Hughes yesterday.
"We hope to take him to Cheltenham for the Queen Mother, but we will see about Punchestown first."
Watson Lake comes here on the back of a foot injury, and a good run here could see him aim for the Champion instead of the Ryanair Chase.
Accordion Etoile is currently joint favourite with Racing Demon for the Arkle at Cheltenham, but trainer Paul Nolan has already stated he believes the ground will be against his horse and the priority this weekend will be to gain experience.
With such question marks over the bigger names, it could pay to side tomorrow with Jim, who only narrowly lost out to Hi Cloy in the Durkan and easily beat Central House over two miles at Galway in October.
Another five-runner field line up for the Grade Two novice hurdle, where the Royal Bond-winner Iktitaf tries to copper-fasten his position among the ante-post market challengers to his stablemate Sweet Wake for the Supreme at the festival.
Iktitaf holds Mounthenry on form, while the former Lincoln winner Tolpuddle could have serious stamina problems around this galloping track.
However, there was plenty to like about the way Sublimity won his sole jumps start to date at Leopardstown during Christmas. The bare form is hardly special, but Sublimity was superior to Iktitaf on the flat and it could be that Philip Carberry gets the better of his brother Paul.
Rare Ouzel is 10lb higher in the ratings for winning at Fairyhouse and should have no problem with the trip in the National Trial.
Numbersixvalverde is already an Irish National winner and takes another step on his way to Aintree in April by running in the opening handicap hurdle.
His last start over hurdles was a good fourth at Fairyhouse in December and Martin Brassil's horse should contend again here.
Conor O'Dwyer travels to Limerick and could end up having a bumper afternoon.
Practice Match may end up losing out to Natural Storm in the Beginners Chase, but the JP McManus-owned pair of Fiery Brown and Clew Bay Cove stand out as having big chances, as does Captain Mac in the handicap hurdle.
BRIAN O'CONNOR'S SELECTIONS
Punchestown: 1.10 - Numbersixvalverde. 1.40 - Sublimity. 2.10 - Well Mounted. 2.40 - Jim (nap). 3.10 - Rare Ouzel. 3.40 - Buailtes And Fadas. 4.10 - Just (double). 4.40 - Shady Willow.
Limerick: 1.55 - Fiery Brown. 2.25 - Clew Bay Cove. 2.55 - Cavallo Classico. 3.25 - Captain Mac. 3.55 - Natural Storm. 4.25 - Maristania. 4.55 - Big Zeb.
