Racing: Ned Kelly is on track to try to rejuvenate his Cheltenham claims in Sunday week's AIG Champion Hurdle. With Istabraq set to miss the Leopardstown contest, there is an unusually open look to the AIG and trainer Edward O'Grady is keen to take advantage.
"Subject to Ned Kelly continuing to work well, he will run in the AIG. I am very pleased with what he is doing at the moment," O'Grady said yesterday.
Ned Kelly has not run since finishing third to Limestone Lad in the Hatton's Grace hurdle in early December, after which he was officially reported to have bled.
O'Grady also reported that the top hunter Sheltering will be in action this weekend at Punchestown. The ante-post Cheltenham action continues, however, to centre on Istabraq's drift in the Champion Hurdle market.
Cashmans now make Istabraq a 9 to 4 favourite to secure a fourth title success and a spokesman for the Cork firm said: "He has drifted from 5 to 4 and we have not been able to lay him."
However, one horse that will not be able to take advantage of any possible chink in the Istabraq armour is Stage Affair, who is set to miss out on the rest of the season.
"He has had a little hold up," Dermot Weld confirmed, but the Curragh trainer had a more upbeat bulletin on the Galway Hurdle winner Ansar.
"He is in good form after a nice break and maybe we will give him a run in something like the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran. We will take it from there," he said.
It's not often a midweek Down Royal bumper has an impact on the Cheltenham festival but both Edward O'Grady and Willie Mullins will be keeping an eye on today's action in the North.
Jenniferjo was runner-up to the Wetherby's bumper second favourite Inca Trail last time while the 7 to 2 Cheltenham favourite Alexander Milenium was 32 lengths ahead of Onetrio at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Onetrio was beaten a long way but it was a good race and Onetrio's reputation looked justified as he was bang in the firing line to the straight. That reputation can get a winning boost now.
Elsewhere on the card there is sure to be interest in the appearance of Instant Queen, who was an instant 13 length winner at Limerick over Christmas. The mares chase looks a logical follow up.
The opening maiden hurdle is a trappy little contest but now that he faces obstacles Royal Tilande could be the answer. Arthur Moore's horses are in form and Royal Tilande is bred to improve on a bumper fourth at Listowel.
