Simple task for Salmon
The Cheltenham Gold Cup second favourite has to take this Grade One contest in style if he is to retain his lofty position near the front of the market.
Paul Carberry again teams up with the nine-year-old and the pair looked an irresistible combination when Beef Or Salmon beat Best Mate by seven lengths in the Lexus Chase on this track at Christmas.
Much interest now will centre on the horse’s jumping through the contest. It was sticky enough in the early stages last time, but got better and better as the race developed.
On a programme which should be chockful of Cheltenham pointers, Tom Foley’s Royal Paradise gets the nod in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle.
This progressive sort has done little wrong all season and there was plenty to like about the way he dismissed Leonard De Vinci to the tune of six lengths on this track last time.
The durable, front-running Sweet Kiln, despite the two and a quarter miles being on the short side, is rated the biggest worry.
Arch Rebel is the form horse in the Cashmans’ Juvenile Hurdle, but Noel Meade’s horses are currently struggling to find form so it may pay to look elsewhere for the winner.
Arch Rebel beat Don’t Be Bitin by five lengths here at Christmas, but the latter has a fighting chance of reversing the placings on 6lbs more favourable terms.
It is a similar story with Meade’s Mark The Man in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase. You could make a case for him being the best horse in this Grade One, but he was completely out of sorts at Leopardstown on his latest appearance.
Nevertheless, if we do have a top class staying novice in the country he is the most likely candidate and gets the nod, particularly as Meade has expressed satisfaction with his recent work.
Never Compromise, impressive on his seasonal reappearance at Thurles, is napped to take the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters ‘Chase.
At Naas today, Mouse Morris’ War Of Attrition puts his Cheltenham Arkle Trophy credentials on the line in the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase.
He showed at Prestbury Park back in March what a classy sort he is when just going down to Brave Inca, after a titanic tussle from the final flight, in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
War Of Attrition is in a different league to his rivals here, but will be having his first outing since being sidelined with a minor injury after making a winning debut over fences at Thurles back in early November.
Morris has expressed fears regarding his race-fitness in testing ground, but the six-year-old looked on good terms with himself when schooling round Thurles with Fota Island recently and his class can get him through.
Pom Flyer, fourth behind Queen Astrid at Leopardstown in a race that is working out well, can land the nap in the 25-runner New Facilities On Offer At Naas Maiden Hurdle.
