GOWRAN PARK PREVIEW: ONE OF Irish jump racing's most illustrious rolls of honour is for Gowran Park's Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase and Emma Jane can add Ruby Walsh's name to that list by landing today's €100,000 feature.
Emma Jane is one of three Thyestes runners for Willie Mullins and considering the champion trainer has an enviable record in the race, having won it three times already, it is a surprise that his stable jockey hasn’t struck before.
However, Walsh missed out on Homer Wells (2007), Hedgehunter (2004) and Micko’s Dream (2000) in a prestigious event that has also been won in the past by Arkle (1964), Flyingbolt (1966) and Brown Lad (1976.)
Today’s 18 runners might not be in that class but it does contain a British runner in Eric’s Charm as well as three previous winners including last year’s victor Preists Leap.
Chelsea Harbour tops the weights, but on a relatively low 11st 7lb and his trainer, Tom Mullins, said yesterday: “It’s topweight but it’s the nicest topweight you could have. He was fifth in the race last year but he has probably improved a good deal since.”
However, considering the last two major handicaps run in Ireland, the Paddy Power Chase and the Pierse Hurdle, have been won by a 33 to 1 shot and a 50 to 1 chance chasing some value today could be the key.
Newbay Prop has led ante-post betting for trainer Tony Martin who also has the 2006 winner Dun Doire while Tony McCoy is travelling to Gowran to team up with the dour stayer Arbor Supreme who is the shortest of the Mullins trio in the betting.
However, Arbor Supreme is over a stone higher in the ratings for his last victory at Fairyhouse and is just 3lb from the top of the scale whereas his stable companion Emma Janelooks to have a much more attractive 10st 4lb on her back.
The mare was fancied to run a big race in the Paddy Power at Christmas but could only finish 12th to Wheresben. However, that was her first start since scoring at the Punchestown festival and it could be worth forgiving.
This afternoon’s black-type feature is the Grade Two Alo Duffin Galmoy Hurdle where Tony McCoy has been booked to ride the World Hurdle third Kazal.
Kazal’s regular jockey Barry Geraghty is on the 2005 and 2006 Galmoy winner Emotional Moment instead but the biggest danger should be the improving Shakervilz.
However, this is the first time that Kazalhas had a combination of three miles and heavy ground this season and he is rated to win this.
The Mullins-Walsh team have an interesting newcomer to jumping in Art Sleuth who goes in a juvenile hurdle that also sees the ex-Michael Stoute-trained son of Galileo, Ephorus, make his debut.
Both could be made go, however, by Ready To Rocknroll, a smart horse on the flat whose own jumping debut came in the Grade One won by Lethal Weapon at Christmas where he eventually finished only nine lengths off the winner.
Savitha has Walsh on her back in the handicap hurdle which is a plus to a mare having her first start over flights since April 2007. However, there could be a better option in Colm Murphy's Irish Champion Hurdle entry Swiftmarcwhose Navan reappearance yielded a good second to Smack That.
Gowran Park will hold a 7.30 inspection this morning due to the threat of overnight rain. The ground is heavy at the Co Kilkenny track. The course was raceable yesterday.
Rogers' Silent Oscar ready to return after long lay-off
CO LOUTH trainer Harry Rogers is hoping his Grade One winner Silent Oscar can make an encouraging return to racing after a 21-month absence in Sunday's Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, writes Brian O'Connor.
The €120,000 feature holds good memories for Rogers who won the race as a jockey in 1986 aboard Herbert United after getting the race in the stewards room on the disqualification of Keslin.
Yesterday he described Silent Oscar as only 50-50 to run on Sunday but the horse who won the 2007 Champion Hurdle at Punchestown is ready for a start after a long lay-off through tendon problems.
"The ground is very, very soft and he is a spring type of horse so I won't make a decision until Friday. But it is possible he will run as he has been off the track a long time and it will take two or three runs before he is back at his peak," Rogers said yesterday.
"He had a tendon problem but he has six months work done already and touch wood he seems to be fine. He has done plenty but whatever happens at the weekend we plan to go for the Red Mills at Gowran and then look at Cheltenham and Punchestown," he added.
The ground at Leopardstown is also proving a concern to the Curragh trainer Sabrina Harty whose Won In The Dark could miss the race due to the testing conditions.
"We would like to run because he is fresh and well, we wouldn't like soft or heavy. He wouldn't be competitive on heavy ground," she said.
Won In The Dark is a general 10 to 1 shot while Silent Oscar is a 25 to 1 shot with Paddy Power for Sunday's big race. But Brave Inca continues to be the popular choice for ante-post punters and is now disputing favouritism in most lists with Sublimity.
Noel Meade plans to run Muirhead in Sunday's big race but the trainer has also reported that Aran Concerto is likely to skip the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, formerly the SunAlliance, in favour of a spring campaign at home.
Aran Concerto hasn't been seen since making a winning debut over fences at Navan and has only just returned to work after a stifle problem. Meade reported that Fairyhouse and Punchestown are more likely for the horse with the Powers Gold Cup a likely target.
