News: Sweet Kiln is over the infection that forced her to miss the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last weekend and is back on track for Cheltenham.
The teak-tough nine-year-old has been in grand form this season, and was narrowly denied an all-important win at the highest level when beaten a short-head by Aitmatov in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse.
But she is now on course for Cheltenham and will run in the David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle. "She had a touch of an infection but she's over that now and looks a million dollars," said trainer Michael Bowe.
"We'll probably take her away for a few bits of work between now and Cheltenham, just to sharpen her up a bit."
Meanwhile, Barry Geraghty believes if Kicking King can return to anything like his old form he will still have a chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The 2005 champion made an encouraging return to action at Gowran after a long absence when second behind Nickname, but ran a lifeless race back at the same venue last weekend.
"He's a class horse, he's shown that in the past, and if he can get back to his old level of ability he'd have to have a chance," said Geraghty. Geraghty will also be riding Cork All Star for Jessica Harrington in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after he won the bumper there last year.
The Irish pilot was top jockey at the meeting in 2003 and has currently ridden the fifth highest number of winners (12) of the jockeys currently riding. Tony McCoy tops the list with 19.
"Cork All Star has been a little bit disappointing but I think he is better than the form he has shown," Geraghty told At The Races.
"I'd be hoping he can get back to the form he has shown in the Royal Bond and the Cheltenham Bumper and he'd still have a live chance in the Supreme Novices'.
At Huntingdon yesterday Venetia Williams had amateur Aidan Coleman to thank for driving 2 to 1 favourite Fretwork home. Despite being sent off favourite for the BetChronicle Best Antepost Prices Mares Only Maiden Hurdle after a decent debut at Chepstow, she made rather heavy weather of it in pipping Senora Snoopy close home.
Williams said: "Sam Thomas recommended him after he spent his first year out of school at Henrietta Knight's. He's based with me now and I have been putting him up quite a bit."
