DESPITE some persistent rum ours to the contrary, all is well with the Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite, Sound Man, who will be worked after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday. "The horse is perfectly all right," Edward O'Grady assured me at Thurles yesterday.
However, all is not well with Noble Thyne, one of the leading fancies for the Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle. Paddy Mullins's charge bruised a foot three days ago and it will be a battle to get him right in time for Cheltenham. I doubt if a year passes without disquieting rumours concerning a fancied big race runner, be it at Cheltenham or elsewhere. The Sound Man scaremongering was accentuated once it was learned that he was lame behind as a result of twisting to avoid a fallen rival when winning at Ascot. "He worked yesterday morning, he exercised this morning and he will work again on Sunday," was the trainer's definitive comment has made Viking Flagship favourite 6 to 4.
Paddy Mull ins did not seem at all hopeful that Noble Thyne would make Cheltenham, and certainly such a setback, albeit not that serious in itself, comes at a crucial stage in his preparation. "We will have to work hard to get him there," said Mullins, who will run Beakstown in either the County Handicap Hurdle or the Citroen Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Gambolling Doe, who won the opening Golden Novice Chase for Mullins by a facile length, having landed just ahead over the last, is not entered at Cheltenham, hut will he prepared for a novice chase at Liverpool. Runner up Percy Brennan lost up to 20 lengths at the start.
Starter Joe Collins reported that Charlie Swan's mount shield, hut the acting stewards will refer the matter for investigation to the Registry Office. Apparently, the starter's rostrum was situated on the hurdles course, and was too far away from the horses.
After the mistake prone O'Grady trained favourite Sea Gale had fallen at the second last fence when challenging in the Holycross Handicap, the race was handed to Corston Dancer, and this mare, the outsider of the five runners, completed a double for Gambolling Doc's rider, Trevor Horgan.
Unknown Soldier, who dug deep when challenged by County Hurdle bound Lamero in the Horse and Jockey Hurdle to win by two and a half lengths, remains in the Festival's two novice hurdles. But trainer Jessica Harrington is inclined to favour Punchestown, if indeed she cannot resist the temptation to keep this five year old for chasing.
Her Ladbroke Hurdle winner Dance Beat is "in great form" and remains on target for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. "It's a long 10 days to Cheltenham though" - a sentiment with which most trainers will concur.
Charlie Swan, who drew a blank yesterday, albeit going close to heating 20 to 1 outsider Ashpark Rose with Black Queen in the Devils Bit Handicap Hurdle, will decide in about 10 days time whether to ride his recent Haydock winner Lo Strogone or Life Of A Lord in the Martell Grand National.
Life Of A Lord's trainer Aidan O'Brien said he would not tie him down if he wishes to ride Lo Strogone, but Swan will be keeping his eye on the weather forecast for Liverpool. Good ground will suit Life Of A Lord and while Lo Strogone will handle good going, he is better on soft."
