NAAS REPORT:Arthur Moore's Mansony took advantage of a significant drop in class to comfortably land the Naas Chase yesterday. With €30,000 on offer in prize money, a disappointing field of only five went to post, with the 4 to 5 favourite's previous form being by far the best on offer.
He had finished second to Watson Lake in the Red Mills Chase on his last start, a Grade Two event, and it looked like he just had to stand up to win. Davy Russell took up the running half a mile out from Laoch Dubh and the result never looked in any doubt.
Ruby Walsh determinedly gave chase on board the 13-year-old Mossy Green, but in doing so left himself open to be challenged for the runner-up spot and he was collared by Garvivonnian on the line, with the pair 12 lengths behind the winner.
Moore said: "That's his Cheltenham. He's a lovely horse and that was a lovely race for him and he did it nicely. We were tempted to go to Cheltenham but it looked like he was going to be top weight in the Grand Annual, which would have been a big ask. He'll go to Fairyhouse next for a similar race and then on to Punchestown."
FAIRYHOUSE SHOCK: The was a big shock at Fairyhouse on Saturday when 1 to 4 favourite Sweet Kiln was turned over by Derravarra Eagle (14 to 1). Michael Bowe, who has officially taken over the licence from his father James, trainer of Solerina and Limestone Lad, appeared to hold all the aces in the As You Like It Restaurant Hurdle, with You Sir also representing him. But neither had an answer to Mark Fagan's charge, who was always travelling sweetly for 7lb claimer Charles Maxwell.
Davy Russell took the favourite wide into the straight in search of better ground, but he was unable to close the advantage he had given away and failed by one and a quarter lengths. You Sir stayed on for third.
Fagan said: "It's not really a surprise, this horse won a hurdle race at Punchestown and was third in a Grade Three at Navan. I can't explain his run last time (when eighth of eight to De Valira), but it might be that he is better going right-handed. I'd love to get some black type with him and we might come back here for a novice hurdle."
CHELTENHAM GROUND: Cheltenham's ground remained exactly the same yesterday as it was on Saturday after a dry and clear day, with very little rain expected to fall before the showpiece Festival meeting starts tomorrow.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "It has been a dry day today and the ground is officially soft on the old course, heavy, soft in places on the cross-country course and soft, heavy in places on the new course.
"The heavy places on the new course are primarily down the hill between the fourth-last and third-last fences and approaching the second-last and last hurdles.
"Showers are forecast tomorrow, although not more than a few millimetres. It will then be dry on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with maybe the odd shower on Friday."
Asked how the dry weather could leave the ground by Friday, Claisse replied: "We may see some good to soft in the description. The significant difference in the way the ground has changed in contrast to previous years is the quantity of moisture through the profile of the soil.
"In recent years it has not been uncommon to have ground on the easy side of good over a relatively dry base.
"But this year, because we have had four times the rain forecast between November and now, there is a mass of moisture in the soil." Claisse said the chance of the ground being good by Friday was "highly unlikely".
