LEOPARDSTOWN SATURDAY:THE EX-HUNTER Steviemac can maintain his 100 per cent handicap strike rate in today's rescheduled MCR Hurdle and in the process deny Katie Walsh a memorable victory on Thousand Stars.
With Ruby Walsh on duty at Ascot, his sister Katie steps in for the ride on Thousand Stars who looks the apparent number one of Willie Mullins's five-strong team in the €100,000 handicap highlight.
Walsh was successful on Thousand Stars at Fairyhouse last time when he made it two from two since switching to Mullins and with stable companion Ebaziyan carrying topweight the partnership should be major players today. The only woman to ride the winner of this race was Ann Ferris in 1979 on the 25 to 1 Irian.
A maximum field of 30 line up for a prestigious prize that was won in the 1970s by the likes of Captain Christy (1972), Comedy Of Errors (1973-74) and Night Nurse (1975). It's a safe bet that none of the winners in the 40-year history of the race were running in hunter chases just months before but that's the route that Steviemac took last season before switching to hurdles.
Three runs in maidens yielded little but in three handicap starts this winter Gerard Keane's runner is unbeaten and significantly jockey Paddy Flood, who could have ridden another major ante-post fancy in Moville, remains on board.
The Mullins team could enjoy better fortune in the Leopardstown Chase with Jayo whose only start so far this term yielded a far from disgraced fifth to Poquelin at Cheltenham last month .
Just five line up for the Grade Two novice chase and it looks an ideal opportunity for Roberto Goldback. Jessica Harrington's runner took care of Cousin Vinny last time and this trip and ground conditions will suit him ideally.
Sorceror and Quobilai can provide Arthur Moore and Davy Russell with a quick double in the first two races.
CHRISTY ROCHEhas won his appeal against the €2,000 fine he picked up at Navan last month for the running of the JP McManus-owned Take A Stroll who was banned from racing for 60 days under non-trier rules.
The Navan stewards decided the racecourse had been used as a training ground after Take A Stroll, ridden by Roche's son Pádraig was unplaced in a maiden hurdle.
Pádraig Roche was suspended for 10 days for making insufficient effort and didn't appeal that penalty. However his father's appeal against the fine, and the 60-day ban for Take A Stroll, was successful at the Turf Club yesterday when the referrals committee were not satisfied the racecourse had been used as a training ground.
They were also happy the horse had been allowed run on its merits.
