NEWS ROUND-UP:TOM TAAFFE already has Tony McCoy on his side for Saturday's Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the trainer is also hoping fate could be an ally to Finger Onthe Pulse's chance.
Last season's festival winner is a general 8 to 1 shot ahead of this weekend's Cheltenham highlight behind the hot favourite Imperial Commander but Taaffe is keen for the Jewson hero to take his chance.
Finger Onthe Pulse had been due to run in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle 11 days ago but that fixture had to be called off due to frost. This Saturday's race is a lucky, and potentially lucrative, alternative for Taaffe.
"The original plan was Newcastle and then I would have looked at a number of options around that.
"We haven't had too many cancellations due to frost in recent years so I'm relieved I made a tentative entry for this race. It fits in nicely," the Straffan trainer said yesterday.
Taaffe has been assured by the Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse that there shouldn't be any weather problems for Saturday's card so he is focusing on the job of beating the Paddy Power winner Imperial Commander who is as low as 7 to 4 favourite in ante-post betting.
"Imperial Commander has been put up 13lb for beating Barber Shop who has franked the form since.
"But Noland has done nothing wrong for our form at Down Royal and I would like to think Finger Onthe Pulse was not quite at his best in the North.
"He got a bit warm beforehand but we hope we have that sorted out," he said.
Barry Geraghty rode Finger Onthe Pulse to his Jewson victory last March but his commitments to Nicky Henderson mean that Taaffe has turned to the in-form British champion jockey Tony McCoy.
"We've managed to get AP which is obviously a bit of a plus," he said.
The Willie Mullins-trained Scotsirish is another Irish entry for the Boylesports but is not a certain starter.
There are a number of Irish hopefuls for the International Hurdle on Saturday including the former winner Harchibald but Irish interest in Britain also looks like taking in today's Grade Two Peterborough Chase with Charlie Swan due to run One Cool Cookie.
Davy Russell is scheduled to ride the Michael O'Leary-trained Grade One winner provided the Huntingdon track passes an 8.00am inspection this morning due to the threat of frost.
Russell was on board War Of Attrition when the former Gold Cup winner was third in Tuesday's John Durkan and trainer Mouse Morris will choose between the King George at Kempton and the Lexus at Leopardstown for his next start.
"There is not a bother on him. We will see in a few days where he goes over Christmas. It will be one of the two. We will see how the ground is closer to the day," Morris said yesterday.
"I suppose everything was against him on Tuesday and he ran a big race. I wasn't disappointed. He didn't even jump with his fluency on that ground and he was up against two and a half milers," he added.
Walsh set to return after having spleen removed
IRELAND'S CHAMPION jockey Ruby Walsh will return to action at Cheltenham tomorrow just four weeks after sustaining an injury that resulted in his spleen having to be removed, writes Brian O'Connor.
Walsh met with the Turf Club's chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick yesterday and was given the all-clear to resume riding.
"It's good news and he will be back on Friday," said his sister, and agent, Jennifer Walsh, yesterday.
"He will have just one ride on Friday, Mahonia, for Paul Nicholls. He can ease himself back into it. He will also be at Cheltenham on Saturday and he'll go wherever Willie Mullins wants him to go on Sunday."
Walsh ruptured his spleen 27 days ago at Cheltenham's Open meeting when taking a fall from Pride Of Dulcote in a handicap hurdle.
