Top trainers under orders for walkabout at Punchestown
A large party including Tom Taaffe, Noel Meade, Jessica Harrington, Willie Mullins, Colm Murphy, Paul Nolan, Francis Flood and Mick Halford will be joined by racecourse officials as well as jockeys Ruby Walsh and Conor O'Dwyer.
This is the third year of the course walk and it has proved to be an overwhelming success.
"It has gone really well the first two years and we have had great feedback," said Punchestown public relations manager Janet Williamson.
"We want to reassure trainers about the fences and the course.
"This year we have packed the fences with new birch and next week the horses will be racing on fresh ground which has not been used since September."
Yesterday the ground was described as soft following 10 millimetres of rain over the weekend.
"It has also been unsettled today, but there's not much rain forecast up to the weekend after Wednesday," she added.
The meeting has attracted a strong entry for the major races including Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King, dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Moscow Flyer and Harchibald, runner-up in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
"I've spoken to Robert Alner today about ferry bookings for Kingscliff, who takes on Kicking King in the Guinness Gold Cup. First Gold is also on target for that race," Williamson went on.
"We are not sure at this stage which race Rule Supreme is going for. Just like at Cheltenham, his trainer Willie Mullins will check on the ground and see which race looks like cutting up.
"If he doesn't go for the Gold Cup, he will be in the Stayers' Hurdle, in which Solerina, Idole First, Rosaker, Holy Orders and maybe Brave Inca are possibles.
"In our two-mile Champion Chase, Moscow Flyer is likely to be taken on by Central House and Ground Ball as well as possibly Native Upmanship and Rathgar Beau.
"Then there's the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle on the Friday, which could be contested by Harchibald, Brave Inca, Accordion Etoile, Intersky Falcon and Macs Joy.
"We have also got cracking novice chases in prospect with War Of Attrition, Like-A-Butterfly and Irish Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde lined up."
Tony McCoy did his bit for his old boss Martin Pipe at Plumpton yesterday when he rode a treble to boost the trainer's chances of retaining his title.
The 17.5-1 three-timer in the absence of suspended regular pilot Timmy Murphy edged Pipe further ahead of Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship race.
Victory for Miss Academy, Shower Of Hail and Argent Ou Or netted Pipe £8,174, with Nicholls picking up a meagre £1,108 following just two placed runners.
Pipe is now £31,232 clear of Nicholls, compared to £24,166 at the beginning of the day, and with just five days of the season left to run the reigning champion is relishing the battle.
