Leopardstown drying out
The meeting featuring four Grade One races including the Hennessy Gold Cup had to be cancelled on Sunday due to a waterlogged track, but officials moved quickly to save the high-profile card.
Although the ground is still described as heavy, the course is now raceable and Burke is keeping his fingers crossed that remains the case for the rest of the week.
“There has been improvement since our cancellation on Sunday and the track is now raceable,” Burke told At The Races.
“The ground is raceable and the forecast during the week is for us to get some rain at times, but some dry spells as well.
“Anyone who bought tickets for Sunday can use them on Saturday and anyone who is in the unfortunate situation where they can’t come on Saturday will be refunded.
“It was hugely disappointing for us to lose the fixture on Sunday but we’ve got to keep spirits up and we’ll have an excellent day’s racing on Saturday.”
Paul Nicholls meanwhile will be double-handed in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury with What A Friend and Noland among the nine entries for the reopened Grade Two.
On the 10 occasions the Aon has been run since its inception in 2000, the champion trainer has won it six times and has used it as a Gold Cup trial for Denman, Kauto Star and See More Business.
On trial this time will be What A Friend, a Grade One winner at Leopardstown and Aintree last season, but seen only once this term when a disappointing fifth behind Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase.
Noland has been top-class over two and a half miles but was pulled-up in a handicap at Cheltenham on his second run after a long injury.
“They’ll both run,” said Nicholls on Tuesday.
Nicky Henderson’s King George runner-up Riverside Theatre is also in the field alongside Chief Dan George, Dance Island, Ogee, Carronhills, Fair Along and Mahogany Blaze.
Fair Along is a fascinating contender for the Philip Hobbs team having not run over fences since April 2008.
“He’s run in plenty of chases, won chases and finished second in an Arkle and third in a Champion Chase,” Hobbs told At The Races.
“He had that good form over fences but we went back to the hurdle route because he was more confident jumping hurdles.
“But I think we’re at the stage now where he’s not going to be competitive with the best at level weights in three-mile hurdle races, so lets try a three-mile chase and see how we get on. Rhys Flint will ride him.”
Philip Hobbs is hopeful a wind operation will help Planet Of Sound bounce back to form in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last season’s Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup winner was not disgraced when third behind Imperial Commander at Haydock on his comeback, but he failed to get competitive in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
“He’s a definite runner in the Gold Cup providing the ground does not go very soft,” Hobbs told At The Races.
“He choked again in the King George, which is what happened in the Ryanair Chase last year. He then won at Punchestown.
“We’ve had an operation done on him since the King George and we’re hoping that will put things right for the Gold Cup.
“I’d imagine he won’t go to Aintree so it will be Cheltenham and then back to Punchestown.”
Hobbs meanwhile declared his delight with Menorah’s condition after the leading Champion Hurdle hope enjoyed a workout yesterday morning.
The six-year-old has been off the track since winning the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December but Hobbs is confident his charge is up to competing at the very highest level but does admits this season’s Champion Hurdle looks seriously competitive.
“He worked brilliantly this morning. We’ve stepped up his work earlier than anticipated due to the fact that he’s put on a bit of condition having had an easy time in December,” Hobbs said.
