ALL appears set fair for the first clash over fences between the old rivals, Danoli and Dorans Pride, at Fairyhouse on Sunday in the Grade One £35,000 Chiquita Drinmore Novice Chase, for which the Paul Nicholls trained See More Business has now been supplemented.
Trainer Tom Foley is "happy enough" with Danoli since he won his second chase at Naas more than two weeks ago but yesterday expressed concern about Tom Treacy's fitness to ride. However, Treacy, who injured his right instep when his mount West On Bridge St collided with the rails at Fairyhouse six days ago, is confident he will be back riding at same track on Saturday.
"I am looking forward to meeting Dorans Pride again," said Foley. "Danoli is improving all the time and by Christmas he will be really coming right. I've entered him in the Denny's Gold Medal Chase at Leopardstown. The race on Sunday will do him all the good in the world, and I thought he ran better over the big fences at Naas than the media did.
Danoli, who won over two and half miles at Clonmel and two miles at Naas, will be better suited by returning to the longer distance on Sunday. Dorans Pride has won his two chases, at Limerick and Punchestown, over two miles and six furlongs and two and a half miles.
"Two and a half miles to three miles will be better for Danoli. I don't mind running him over two miles by times, as it will get him to jump faster and also get him cuter. We'll have to see what he will go for at Cheltenham, but the three miles of the Sun Alliance Chase is not a bit too far. He will learn as he goes along, said his handler.
Tony McCoy will ride See More Business and also stable companions Lake Kariba in the Avonmore Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the former Paddy Mullins trained Castlekeltyleader in the Avonmore Hatton's Grace Hurdle, both Grade One events.
Lexus Ireland, promoters of the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh for the past two seasons, are to sponsor the 1997 Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The Classic, which carries a prize fund of £200,000, will be run at the Curragh on Sunday May 25th as part of the Guineas Festival weekend.
The new sponsorship was announced yesterday at a function in the Toyota Motors Centre in Ballsbridge, Dublin. Lexus Ireland is part of Killeen Investments, which also controls Mount Juliet Estate and Ballylinch Stud. A number of horses owned by the Mount Juliet Sporting Club Syndicate are currently in training in Ireland.
. Wither Or Which, the winner of the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham last March, has been injured during a schooling session over hurdles and may be out for the whole season.
Willie Mullins, the five year old's trainer said: "He's definitely out of action until January, and we will review the situation in the New Year before making any further plans for him."
