IT is good news that the McCain Chase, scheduled for Leopardstown last Wednesday and, when the meeting was cancelled, re-scheduled for the following Saturday, has been salvaged and will be one of the features on Ladbroke Hurdle day at Leopardstown a week next Saturday.

The abandoned Leopardstown race attracted Strong Platinum and Klairon Davis. It is intended to run both chasers, but in the event of heavy going the former would be re-routed to the Ladbroke Hurdle.

Runner-up to Strong Platinum in a two-mile handicap chase at Punchestown before Christmas, Monalee River reappears in today's Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles. Of course, Willie Mullins's charge was quite outclassed by Strong Platinum, who conceded 24lb, but he was running over a distance well short of his best. Prior to that he was a four lengths second behind Gimme Five in the Troytown

Chase at Navan and a reproduction of that running should now see him through.

Aidan O'Brien has charge of some promising four-year-old hurdlers including Theatreworld, runner-up to Elas Image in the competitive Dennys Juvenile Hurdie at Leopardstown. It is likely that this son of Sadler's Wells will fare better on good ground. But stable companion Shaunies Lady is no slouch as she demonstrably showed when winning a maiden hurdle by 10 lengths at Fairyhouse early last month. She was unfancied when finishing behind Hill Society and Theatreworld over the same course the previous month. Shaunies Lady cannot be opposed in the Killinan Hurdle.

Runner-up to Punting Pete aid Navan, the Arthur Moore-trained Kilspindie should finish there or thereabouts in the Irish National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Series. Scenic Route, who finished third behind the progressive Urubande at Leopardstown last Sunday, may follow the selection home.