The wonderfully consistent Private Peace makes a quick reappearance in the Grade 3 Novices Chase at Naas tomorrow but may have to settle for the runner up spot this time behind the course specialist Liver Bird.
Private Peace has run six times over fences this season, never finishing out of the first two and winning four times. The latest of those was at Leopardstown last Sunday when beating Mr Baxter Basics by a head in an Arkle Trophy thriller. All of the grey's guts and talent were on show then but even they might not be enough over Naas's three miles against Liver Bird.
John Berry's horse was involved in an interesting race himself last time when beaten here by Delphi Lodge. John Shortt availed himself of someone else's whip to drive the horse home but was still outpaced in the closing stages.
Liver Bird had previously won over a longer trip at Fairyhouse and has always shaped like a horse who will relish a test of stamina. He gets that today and even against Private Peace, Liver Bird can win.
One of the more interesting runners today is the former top class novice chaser Harcon who reappears in the Celbridge Handicap Hurdle. Jim Dreaper's huge chestnut has been plagued with injuries since his novice season and on his last comeback was lucky to return home.
That was at Gowran last February when he took an appalling fall and there were genuine concerns for his future. Dreaper said yesterday: "He broke a bone in his pelvic area when he fell at Gowran and spent three weeks in his box afterwards unable to put any real weight on it. Basically, we are running him to see if he has any future in the game, but in his work he seems to be enjoying himself."
It nice to see Harcon's return but it may be best to concentrate on Lord Dal and Spirit Dancer, with preference for the latter.
Cailin Supreme was given a superb ride by Tommy Treacy to win at Leopardstown last time out and given similarly patient guidance can win the Irish Racing Writers Novices Hurdle while in the opening Kill Maiden Hurdle, Jason Titley can get Tom Taaffe's We Three home ahead of the superbly bred Archive Footage.
