Hughes hoping it’s V for victory
The nine-year-old was just run out of it by Wheresben over three miles there over Christmas and is now trying two miles five furlongs.
“We’d prefer three miles but he should be all right over it. I think he’ll run a good race,” said Hughes.
“He’s gone up 6lb for his last run, but he should still go well.”
The Kildare trainer also saddles Schindlers Hunt, who is stepping up in trip having been campaigned mainly at two miles.
“We felt the last day he ran honest enough but two miles is getting a bit short for him nowadays,” Hughes went on.
“It’s just a trial and we’ll see how we get on. It’s worth a go.”
Connections of the Colm Murphy-trained Clew Bay Cove are also hopeful of a good show from their nine-year-old.
“It’s a wide-open race and a good race. He’d have an each-way chance,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner J P McManus.
“He ran well the last day at Naas (second to Oscar India) and we hope he runs well.”
Ross River returned from a 20-month lay-off through injury with an encouraging run over hurdles at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.
His trainer Tony Martin also expects the 13-year-old to be in the mix.
“It was a nice run back there the last day. He usually runs well at Leopardstown so we hope he can put up a good show,” said the County Meath-based handler.
“He had been off the track because he got a leg. He ran quite well, hopefully he can improve a bit for it.”
Leopardstown Chase: Cashmans bet - 9/4 Finger OnThe Pulse, 5/1 Mister Top Notch, 11/2 Kilcrea Castle, 13/2 Vic Venturi, 8/1 Clew Bay Cove, Skys The Limit, 14/1 Schindlers Hunt, Carrigeen Kalmia, Oscar India, Ross River.
Meanwhile Liam Burke’s exciting prospect Thyne Again will bid to bounce back to winning ways in the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday week.
The eight-year-old was a Grade One winner during his novice chase season and made the perfect start to the new campaign when scoring by 20 lengths in a Grade Three contest at Naas.
A dirty scope saw him sidelined for a couple of months but he ran a fine third on his comeback in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, a performance which delighted his County Cork handler.
“He’s in great form and all being well he will head to Fairyhouse on Sunday week,” said Burke.
“We were delighted with him at Leopardstown as he was not 100% going into the race and he was forced to miss the John Durkan because of a dirty scope, but that’s just the way it goes.”
The gelding is engaged in the Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and Burke is still undecided which way to go.
“I suppose it will more than likely be the Ryanair but we will see what the ground is going to be before deciding for certain,” Burke continued. The Ryanair is probably the most competitive race but it could be the right option for him. The Champion Chase looks a one-horse race and really we would be chasing place money there.
“The plan is to run in the Irish Hennessy after Fairyhouse to see how he copes with the trip and if he went very close you would have to consider the Gold Cup. He does have plenty of pace so if he stays as well then it will be great as he will have it all.”
