Demon on right track for Gold Cup glory
A horse who has yet to fulfil his undoubted potential, he has a real live chance here.
The seven-year-old must go right-handed to produce his best and, in a far from vintage renewal, can run a big race.
Knight has given him a decent break since Cheltenham, where he contested the Ryanair Chase. Considering the selection jumped markedly right at most of the fences, he did well to finish fifth behind Taranis.
Racing Demon is much better judged on his King George performance at Kempton at Christmas, when putting up a career-best effort.
He finished eight lengths and a length and a quarter third behind Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer and that is surely the best piece of relatively recent form any of the candidates carries into this Grade 1.
The King George received a massive boost when Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer subsequently completely dominated the finish of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In Compliance, at his best, has the ability to make it hot for Racing Demon.
The problem, however, is he hasn't been seen since beating War Of Attrition on this track back in December.
He failed to sparkle on the lead-up to Cheltenham and it takes a minor leap of faith to be on his side now.
Neptune Collonges is the other for the short-list. Eighth behind Kauto Star in the Gold Cup, after leading well into the straight, his prospects would be greatly enhanced if the rain was to bucket down.
Shuil Aris, Ruby Walsh is a significant booking, can enjoy a first success over flights in the Grade 3 Bewleys Hotels' Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.
Lightly raced, she was returning from a long break when beaten a short head by the vastly more experienced Grangeclare Lark at Fairyhouse.
Shuil Aris has to be fancied to reverse placings on 3lbs more favourable terms and the better the surface the more confident one would be.
Twostrongmen has a leading chance in the Three.ie Novice Chase. He has been rested since falling two out, when right in contention, in the contest won by Oran Climate at Leopardstown in January.
The only race Twostrongmen has ever won was a bumper, on good ground, at this meeting a year ago.
