Hogan sets sights on Pierse
Silver Jaro, who sprang a 50-1 surprise in last season’s County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has been trained with this race specifically in mind.
“We were happy enough with his last run in November. This has been his target for some time so hopefully he’ll run well in it again and hopefully the weights will stay as they are,” said the County Tipperary trainer.
Noel Fehily was in the plate when Silver Jaro took minor honours behind Barker last January and will take the mount again as long as he is passed fit after damaging his collarbone in a fall at Fontwell just before Christmas.
John Cullen will be aboard Kirkbybroguelantern, although he does hold an alternative entry in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) over three miles on the same card.
“He’ll more than likely run in the Pierse too,” Hogan added.
“We want to try him back over a fast-run two-mile race. He didn’t seem to get the three at Cheltenham in November.
“There wasn’t much pace on at Punchestown the last day so he made the running. He’s a lazy horse, he likes to be carried along. He’s a stuffy and blew plenty the last day.”
On The Way Out faces a tough baptism in his first handicap after winning novice events at Fairyhouse and Gowran on his last two starts.
And his trainer John Kiely is prepared to go back that type of race if the six-year-old proves to be out of his depth.
“He’s on course for the race at the moment and is in good form,” said the Dungarvan-based handler.
“I was pleased with him at Gowran so we’ll see how he gets on. He’s still a novice so we can go back to those if he’s not good enough, but this is a big prize.”
Finger Onthe Pulse is set to take his chance in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase on Sunday having chased home Paul Nicholls’ Noland on his latest outing.
The eight-year-old holds an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it is something trainer Tom Taaffe is giving serious consideration to.
“It was a super day when he won the Jewson at Cheltenham last year and he has progressed well this season,” said Taaffe.
“He won first time out before finishing second to Noland and he has been unlucky since as he has travelled over to Newcastle and Cheltenham and both were abandoned.
“We will look at the Gold Cup as I have always wanted to try him over three miles plus at some stage.
“Nobody knows what is going to happen between now and the Gold Cup. I always say you have to get to the start in one piece and be well on the day so we will just keep our options open.
“I think as he gets older he’ll get the trip. He’s getting more mature now and he is getting a bit more settled in his racing.”
Taaffe also has Cane Brake and last year’s Grand National runner-up Slim Pickings engaged in the Gold Cup, but admits it is too early to be making firm plans.
“Cane Brake is great and has come his run behind Exotic Dancer in the Lexus very well. He’s come out of his better than I thought he would,” Taaffe continued.
“He is in the Thyestes Chase but he will probably go for the Irish Hennessy. He ran a cracker in the Gold Cup in 2007 to finish fifth and he was only beaten 11 lengths by Kauto Star.
“Obviously he would need soft ground to mount a serious challenge at Cheltenham this time.
“All roads lead to Aintree for Slim Pickings but we have given him a Gold Cup entry to keep our options open.
“I would just like to find a Grade Two chase somewhere here for him before Aintree but he is fully exposed so we will see how we get on.”
Henry de Bromhead is likely to wait until just before final declaration time today before deciding whether to run Oscar India in the Leopardstown Chase.
The County Waterford trainer reports the 10-year-old to be in good form and hopes it was unsuitable ground that caused him to run disappointingly in the Paddy Power Chase on the same course over Christmas.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he said. “I hope it was the ground. It was a pretty indifferent run to be honest, I don’t know what it was.
“He seems great so I’ll wait until just before 10am tomorrow. It might come too soon after his last run, we’ll see.”
lParts of the course are frozen at Leopardstown but officials do not envisage any problems ahead of Sunday’s meeting.
“There’s frost due again tonight, but it is due to get much milder from Friday night onwards. We are not anticipating any problems for Sunday,” said general manager Tom Burke.
Officials at Punchestown are hoping the milder weather arrives in time to allow their meeting tomorrow to go ahead.
“There is a thaw due Friday night into Saturday,” said director of racing Richie Galway. “It depends how substantial that thaw is in terms of whether we race or not.”
