THE scene could be set for a classic Anglo-Irish head-to-head in today's Queen Mother Champion Chase between the reigning champion, KIairon Davis, and the former holder Viking Flagship.
But with the stage's surface looking to have the consistency of concrete, more and more eyes are glancing towards a bit player on the wings. Appropriately, as the youngest horse in the field, the upstart's name is Strong Promise, and while he may not have done enough yet to suggest he can live with the specialist two-milers, the potential he has shown when conditions are to his liking has been unmistakable.
Today Strong Promise, with the ground continuing to dry rapidly, has his conditions.
The same certainty does not apply to Klairon Davis or Viking Flagship. Arthur Moore presented a typically impassive face yesterday, but after months of gearing up Klairon Davis for the most important occasion of all, the reports from the incoming jockeys were not encouraging.
"I have to be slightly worried. Soft ground is usually such an advantage to Klairon Davis," Moore said, and while Klairon Davis' undoubted quality will still see him play a major role, he now looks beatable.
The gallant Viking Flagship has shown in the past that he takes being beaten almost as a personal affront, but it's hard to believe that after two successes in this race and a second last year he can get any better. Along with Martha's Son, he is the oldest in the race, and two miles on good ground may now be too quick for him.
Geoff Hubbard has never feared letting Strong Promise's youth take its turn. His defeat of One Mah at Ascot last time was overshadowed by the fallout from the grey's decline, but it showed the six-year-old is back to the form that saw him chase Challenger Du Luc all the way to the line in the Mackeson and win a competitive Ascot handicap with his head in his chest.
Allowed to run from the front, where his flamboyant jumping will be most effective, Norman Williamson and Strong Promise can rattle around Cheltenham and realise all his promise.
The ground must also be a slight worry for Istabraq in the Royal Sun Alliance Hurdle, but if the confidence of his connections is any guideline then it's only the slightest of slight worries.
Charlie Swan has been confident for some time that in Istabraq he is riding a novice of the highest quality, and significantly, owner JP McManus looks set to wade into the bookmakers to back up that confidence with hard cash.
Istabraq's greatest danger could be compatriot Boss Doyle, whose season has been geared to this. But Istabraq can justify all the "Irish banker" tags loaded on him.
Seven horses will try to maintain Ireland's proud record in the bumper, and while Richard Dunwoody's mount Florida Pearl is greatly fancied, and All The Colours is greatly talked about, on the ground Musical Mayhem looks a value bet to win for Dermot. Weld.
Musical Mayhem won his only race at Fairyhouse in a very fast time, beat a well-fancied newcomer in Colonel Henderson very easily and has been impressing work watchers on the Curragh gallops. Most importantly, of all he will relish the going.
Corket's stamina must be a doubt in the Royal Sun Alliance Chase, and a better option looks to be Hanakham, third to Coome Hill last time, and rated the best horse he has trained by Ron Hodees.
