Gowran Park preview: What had looked like becoming Gowran Park's very own "mini-Champion Hurdle" has instead turned into what appears to be an ideal Cheltenham prep' for Macs Joy this afternoon.
A field of five are scheduled to line up for the Red Mills Trial Hurdle but the prospect of heavy ground has already scared away the likes of Hardy Eustace and Asian Maze and significantly, two other star names look like appearing for the sole reason that there is no better alternative this close to the Cheltenham festival.
Noel Meade has declared his enigmatic star Harchibald but to judge from the champion trainer's comments yesterday, it's fair to say he will travel to Gowran in a less than confident mood.
"I'm not very happy at the idea of running him on that ground to be honest. I think he will be better for the run, but he has absolutely no chance on that ground," he said. "A race will bring him on more than a gallop. He is definitely fit enough to run, it's just the ground. It can get very heavy at Gowran. What we want is to run and come back unscathed before heading to Cheltenham," Meade added.
John Murphy has also declared the Champion Chaser Newmill but the Co Cork trainer said yesterday he will examine the state of the track at Gowran this morning before finally deciding if his horse runs. "I'm told it's quite sloppy which would allow us get away with it. I will have a look myself to make sure but if it's not suitable then he won't run," he declared.
Very testing conditions are not ideal for Macs Joy either but Jessica Harrington's horse is famously versatile and beat Asian Maze here last year before going on to finish runner-up to Brave Inca at Cheltenham. He does have to concede 8lb to Newmill but on the back of a very encouraging reappearance in the AIG, a defeat for Macs Joytoday will be a shock to many.
Macs Joy's stable companion Knight Legend brings some decent novice form to the Grade Two Trial Chase where Sher Beau can secure a deserved first win of the season.
Philip Fenton's classy sort ran a blinding race in the John Durkan to finish with only In Compliance and War Of Attrition in front of him but was then brought down in the early stages of the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas.
Two and a half miles in testing conditions look ideal for Sher Beauwho gets a significant 5lb from the top-rated Watson Lake.
Khetaamhas already got enough form in the book to make it something of a mystery that he still hasn't won over fences, a fact he can put right in the opening Beginners Chase.
His stable companion Alqaab put in an eye-catching debut over jumps at Fairyhouse in December when runner-up to Convincing. Victories at Grade Two and Grade Three level by the latter since then only advertise that form and Alqaabreportedly worked well during the week.
Model Athlete is the Noel Meade runner in the maiden hurdle but preference is for Bad Day Bad Dayafter a good run behind Montana Bay at Punchestown recently.
