Swan snapped up for Liss A Paoraigh in Stayers’ Hurdle
The eight-year-old mare, trained by John Kiely, was supplemented for the £140,000-added contest at a cost of £7,000 on Saturday and is 16-1 with Ladbrokes.
Liss A Paoraigh has a victory over Ireland’s premier Stayers’ Hurdle hope Limestone Lad to her credit when she was ridden by Swan at Navan in November 2001 but since then James Bowe’s 11-year-old has beaten her no less than four times.
Swan finished runner-up on the ill-fated Bannow Bay behind Baracouda in this three-mile contest last March. He has a total of 17 Festival wins in his career including this race twice with Trapper John (1990) and Shuil Ar Aghaidh (1993).
And Swan partners Like-A-Butterfly in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in a bid to add to his hat-trick of successes in that race on Istabraq (1998-2000).
Like-A-Butterfly was the most notable mover today for Tuesday’s feature, being cut by Coral to 13-2 from 8-1.
Meanwhile Nicky Henderson expressed concern over drying conditions at Cheltenham after walking the course yesterday.
The Lambourn trainer said: “If we get two days of drying ground they will be fairly humming around here come Tuesday. It will be quite quick out there.
“It seems softer by the stand than an other part of the course, which, In my opinion, are good and rather quicker at the top of the hill.”
Henderson also revealed that Fondmort could well switch to the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase as opposed to the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase because the trainer greatly fears the participation of La Landiere.
He said: “I don’t like the idea of giving La Landiere a stone as I think it is ridiculous and we could also run Hermes III and Scots Grey in the Mildmay of Flete.”
The participation of Nas Na Riogh in the JCB Triumph Hurdle could also be in doubt if the track continues to dry out.
Henderson said: “I would be concerned about running her in the race on Thursday if the ground got quicker as she really must have it on the soft side.
“And I think Chauvinist will now run on the opening day in the Gerrard Wealth Management Supreme Novices’ Hurdle rather than the Royal and SunAlliance Novices Hurdle as it might be much quicker by then.”
Henderson’s Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy hope Isio was reported in great shape by the trainer.
He said: “He did a lovely piece of work on Saturday morning and we are very happy with him.”
Cheltenham Festival plans for the Martin Pipe-trained duo It Takes Time and Well Chief were confirmed yesterday when the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase and JCB Triumph Hurdle were nominated as their respective targets.
Both horses run in the famous colours of David Johnson and the owner said: “It Takes Time is still in the Gold Cup but I think he will go for the SunAlliance. We’ve got Keen Leader to beat, he’s a very good horse but he has fallen at Cheltenham before.
“I’ve got Lirfox in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle so Well Chief will be going for the Triumph as I didn’t want two runners in one race.
“Both Lirfox and Well Chief are working very well.”
Henry Daly remains undecided as to which race Hand In Hand will contest at the Cheltenham Festival after walking the course yesterday. The progressive seven-year-old, winner of his last four starts over fences, is in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy on Tuesday, as well as the Cathcart Challenge Cup on Thursday.
“If the weather stays like this it will be good ground come Tuesday as the sun and wind is drying it out all the time,” Daly said.
“At present it seems to me that the ground is on the slow side of good but in my opinion it’s a bit quicker than that at the top of the hill.
“Hand In Hand is in the Arkle and the Cathcart and my preference would be the Cathcart given the conditions but I will chat with his owner later and see what he thinks.”
However, he still intends running Pillar Property Chase hero Behrajan in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“He has run well on good ground in the past but obviously I would prefer it a bit softer just to slow the others down,” he said.
“But he was third here in the Stayers’ Hurdle on good to firm ground so that should mean he should go on anything.
“He’s in good order and we are hoping for the best.”
Away from Cheltenham, Grandera put himself in line for a crack at the Dubai World Cup after making a successful return to action in the third round of the Maktoum Challenge at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday.
The defending World Racing Series champion made smooth headway to lead two furlongs from home under Frankie Dettori before soon going clear and holding the late challenge of Grundlefoot by half a length.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford was delighted with the effort of the winner.
“Grandera’s win was very pleasing as it was his first run on sand,” Crisford told www.godolphin.com. “He picked up well in the straight. We now have the option of going to the Dubai World Cup which is the likely next race for him.”
