Kazal camp wary of Grace rivals
The seven-year-old, who was fourth to Catch Me at Navan on his reappearance earlier this month, is among eight horses standing their ground at the latest acceptance stage.
Likely rivals not only include Catch Me, but Champion Hurdle winners Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca.
“I think he’s going to be really up against it if Hardy Eustace, Catch Me and Brave Inca show up,” said the County Kilkenny trainer.
“But there’s nothing else around for him without travelling to England so we’ll run him there.
“If he’s OK after that, we’ll go for the Long Walk at Ascot just before Christmas.
“The two and a half miles on Sunday is a bit short for him but he’s in good form.
“He’s come out of the Navan race well and hopefully he’ll run a good race.”
Completing the entries in the Grade One contest are the Noel Meade pair of Aitmatov and Muirhead, Sweet Kiln and Convincing.
Hatton’s Grace Hurdle: Paddy Power bet - 9-4 Hardy Eustace, 5-2 Catch Me, 7-2 Kazal, 7 Aitmatov, Brave Inca, 10 Muirhead, 14 Sweet Kiln, 66 Convincing.
Meanwhile Adrian McGuinness plans to send Beau Michael for the wbx.com “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Co. Dublin-based handler admits he is throwing the four-year-old in at the deep end but is hopeful the gelding will prove up to the task.
“We’ve forfeited the entry for the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse this weekend so he’s doing his last piece of work today and if he scopes clean afterwards, he’ll definitely travel,” said McGuinness.
“He’s in good form. I’d have loved to have gone to Haydock last week but the ground was a shade too quick, so we erred on the side of caution.
“We’re pitching him in at the deep end but we’ve no option. Off his mark he’s not going to win handicaps in Ireland or England so we either stop dreaming or keep dreaming after the weekend.
“There’s plenty of conditions races with good money and we think he’s still improving.”
Connections of the Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi have their eyes on the #1million bonus in the WBX Triple Crown.
The huge prize is up for grabs should one horse this season win the “Fighting Fifth”, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Tony Stafford, racing manager to owner Raymond Tooth, said: “Before the end of the summer we had targeted the race and think the horse should be suited by Newcastle.
“He showed improved form on the Flat this summer and don’t forget he beat Mad Rush at Newmarket who is now rated 22lb higher.
“This would make us rated at least 100 if you took the form of the race at face value.
“The ’Fighting Fifth’ is perfect timing for us and we think the track should suit.
“We know he acts at Kempton and, having finished third in the Champion last year, we have to be confident about him performing well at Prestbury Park.
“The three races make up the WBX Triple Crown and we are all out to win it.
“We hope to have Barry Geraghty on board as he rode Punjabi at Cheltenham and at Punchestown last season.”
“Fighting Fifth” Hurdle
Coral bet: 11-8 Punjabi, 3-1 Harchibald, 4-1 Sublimity, 9-2 Blue Bajan, 25-1 Noble Alan, Tazbar, 33-1 Arcalis, Beau Michael, Degas Art, Harper Valley.
Cashmans: 5/4 Punjabi, 10/3 Harchibald, 7/2 Sublimity, 11/2 Blue Bajan, 12 Tazbar, 14 Beau Michael, 16 Arcalis, 33 Harper Valley, Noble Alan
Philip Hobbs meanwhile could be double-handed in the Hennessy Gold Cup with Monkerhostin and Parsons Legacy.
Monkerhostin ended last season with victory in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown but could only finish fifth of the six runners on his return to action in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Parsons Legacy had a rather more successful reappearance after scoring at Cheltenham in October – but Hobbs is keeping an eye on the weather before committing him to an outing at Newbury on Saturday.
“Monkerhostin is a likely runner at this stage and we will just see what the ground is like before making a decision on Parsons Legacy,” said Hobbs.
“Monkerhostin was obviously a bit disappointing in the Charlie Hall, but he seems in good form and I’m hoping he will have improved a little bit for that run.
“Parsons Legacy was due to run at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago but we pulled him out due to the soft ground and that would be the worry again.
“Hopefully it will stay dry and they would both have an each-way chance if they do line up.”
Tom George reports the well-backed Island Flyer to be in rude health for the valuable contest.
He lost his unbeaten status over fences when edged out by a nose in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton last time but George believes he will prove a major player on Saturday.
“I’m thrilled with him and he was unlucky to go down by a nose at Wincanton,” the trainer told At The Races.
