Flyer primed for Punchestown
The 11-year-old was forced to miss an intended engagement at Leopardstown over Christmas as he was suffering from a cold.
Mrs Harrington reports him to be over that setback and she wants to give Moscow Flyer one more run before sending him for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival on March 16.
“It’s a Grade Three race over two miles he won two years ago and will be his only outing before Cheltenham,” said Mrs Harrington.
“He’s in grand order and, touch wood, everything is going well with his preparation for the Festival.”
Meanwhile, Murphy’s Cardinal could make a second trip to Ireland this season as Noel Chance considers Leopardstown’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on February 6 as another option for his promising chaser.
The Lambourn-based trainer had also been thinking about the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham the weekend before as the next run for the nine-year-old.
Murphy’s Cardinal travelled across to Down Royal for his first start of the season when he impressively took a Grade Three event, and has raced only once since, when a close fourth to Colonel Frank at Sandown in December.
“I’ve been pleased with him since Sandown and he’s in grand condition,” said Chance.
“He travels well, and the Hennessy gives us another option to the Pillar Chase. I’ll monitor what’s likely to run at Leopardstown, where there’s some serious prize-money on offer for the placed horses - and who knows, he might win.
“While we’ll no doubt have to take on Beef Or Salmon, they’ll be no Kicking King or Best Mate and there must be a chance the race will cut up.
“However, if it begins to look otherwise, we’ll take our chance at Cheltenham.”
Elsewhere, Kingscliff will head straight for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after trainer Robert Alner ruled out a crack at Saturday’s Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.
The eight-year-old was runner-up to Kicking King on his seasonal bow in the King George VI Chase last month and there had been talk of him taking in the Haydock race en route to Cheltenham.
However, Alner has decided to bypass the three-mile event, in which Kingscliff finished second last year.
Owner David Johnson could be double-handed in Saturday’s Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock with both Therealbandit and It Takes Time.
The former, one of the most promising novices of last season, registered a most impressive success at Cheltenham in December but subsequently disappointed in the King George VI Chase.
The eight-year-old was a distant seventh behind Kicking King in the Kempton feature but was possibly not suited by the right-handed track.
“It Takes Time keeps running well and I’m sure his turn will come soon,” Johnson added.
Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith looks set to launch a two-pronged raid over the Pennines with Tommy Whittle Chase winner Chives set to be joined by last year’s winner Artic Jack.
Bindaree is another who will be reappearing after running in the Welsh National at Chepstow last month.
The 2002 Grand National winner had a stressful few hours before he finished fifth in that race as his horsebox got stuck in traffic and he had to be ridden across the Severn Bridge to make the course in time.
Another former race winner set to line up is the 2003 victor Truckers Tavern.
The 10-year-old beat Hussard Collonges in the race before going on to finish second to Best Mate in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A total of 14 horses have been entered with the Henry Daly-trained Hand Inn Hand, winner of the Grade One Ascot Chase last season, the likely top weight.
Overseas interest comes in the form of France’s First Gold, triumphant in the 2000 King George VI Chase and twice winner of the Martell Cup at Aintree.
Other prominent entries include Take The Stand, who was travelling well when falling four out on his latest start in the Welsh National, and Howard Johnson’s useful young chaser and Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup fourth Lord Transcend.
