RACING: Willie Mullins described Adrian Maguire as "first choice" to maintain the King George-winning partnership with Florida Pearl for the future, but some doubt remains about the jockey's availability for Cheltenham.
Paris Pike, pulled up lame in the Ericsson, remains a possible contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Maguire's services may yet be claimed by the Ferdy Murphy yard.
"I imagine Adrian will be all right for the Hennessy (February 10th) because Paris Pike probably won't go for that. But afterwards things will depend on whether or not Paris Pike goes for the Gold Cup; or if he does, will Adrian be released or not," Mullins said yesterday.
There appears to be no doubt that Maguire is the preferred choice of Mullins and the owners, Violet and Archie O'Leary, for Florida Pearl, especially after the late dramatics of trying to find a jockey for the King George.
"I have to ask Adrian if he will ride the horse, he has to say yes and then it will depend on if he is free, but he looks like the first choice at the moment. Mr and Mrs O'Leary were very happy with Adrian at Kempton and so was I," Mullins added.
The Carlow-based trainer also reported that Alexander Banquet has emerged hale and hearty from his comeback race in the Ericsson and will again take on his stable companion in the Hennessy.
Before that, however, is the AIG Champion Hurdle on January 27th and although Istabraq will figure among the entries for the race, he remains an unlikely runner. Aidan O'Brien has confirmed the plan for the triple champion is to go straight to Cheltenham in March.
Paul Carberry is scheduled to return to action at Thurles this afternoon following a six-day absence due to a thumb injury.
The season's leading jockey hasn't ridden since partnering Limestone Lad at Leopardstown and will be keen for a return to form after missing out on both the King George and Ericsson winning rides over Christmas.
Carberry is on Rathgar Beau in the novice hurdle and the horse has a leading shout based on a third to Sacundai in a Grade Two over the holiday. However, Native Jack looks a very real danger despite having gone down by half a length to Kadoun at Limerick.
The bet of the day, however, could be the Dennys third, Emperors Guest, in the WT O'Grady Hurdle. Paddy Mullins's horse was repeatedly hampered in his run at Leopardstown but still ended up a good third to Newhall.
Balla Sola has not set the world on fire recently but he ran okay behind Knife Edge at Leopardstown and he has won twice over the course and distance of the Memorial Chase.
On the ratings, the Mullins runner comes out best and maybe the return to the Thurles track will see this sometimes quirky customer back to something like his best.
Impressive Ascot winner Marble Arch was yesterday cut to 22 to 1 from 33 to 1 for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Coral bookmakers slashed the price after the Hughie Morrison-trained six-year-old was the subject of decent support.
Spokesman David Stevens said: "Following Istabraq's narrow win at the weekend, it seems punters are willing to take on the reigning champion and, as a result, are looking at the bigger priced challengers." Marble Arch was a 7 to 1 chance when winning the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle, ridden by Norman Wiliamson.
