Ruby on schedule for Fifth
The seven-year-old will bid to give rookie trainer Harry Fry a major success in his first season with a licence.
Fry was assistant to the horse’s former handler Paul Nicholls and was responsible for Rock On Ruby when the horse took the Cheltenham crown.
Another Festival victor set for Newcastle is Countrywide Flame, winner of the Triumph Hurdle for North Yorkshire trainer John Quinn.
Trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire have taken this prestigious prize for the last two years with Peddlers Cross and Overturn.
They are relying upon Cinders And Ashes giving them a notable hat-trick.
The five-year-old was last seen winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival from Nicky Henderson’s Darlan and the Charles Byrnes-trained Trifolium.
They, too, have been left in the Fighting Fifth.
Completing the sextet is Bothy, who has been supplemented by Brian Ellison following his fine effort to take fourth place behind Olofi in the Racing Post Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month.
“He’s just a brilliant horse,” said the North Yorkshire handler.
“I could have run him again a couple of days later, he’s come out of it in great form.
“I just love the horse to bits.”
Henderson admits the wet weather than is battering the country is giving him real cause for concern.
The situation at Newcastle appears particularly bad and the trainer admits Darlan may not make the journey to the North East if the meeting does go ahead.
Henderson also raised the possibility of the Fighting Fifth being switched to a different racecourse, as it was when his Punjabi won the race at Wetherby in 2008 and when Peddlers Cross was victorious at Newbury in 2010.
Henderson said: “It’s getting on the verge of depressing, let alone worrying.
“Newcastle is under threat for the Fighting Fifth. It sounds pretty dangerous. They have re-routed the Fighting Fifth in the past.
“If Newcastle was on you’d have to wonder if we’d want to be going there anyway, but if they switched it to Newbury is that going to be heavy as well?”
* Davy Russell continued his irresistible winning spree when making a very rare visit to Kempton on Monday.
The stylish jockey had fashioned a Navan treble for his main employer Gigginstown Stud on Sunday, including on the exciting prospect Don Cossack, and his only ride here was aboard Knockfierna in the Listed OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.
Trainer Charles Byrnes felt he had spotted a loophole in the programme book across the Irish Sea as this multiple Graded winner of both novice hurdles and chases was well treated on her return to smaller obstacles after a couple of slightly perplexing outings over fences.
Russell bustled along Knockfierna (11-4) from a long way out but received the response he wanted and she came two and a half lengths clear of Miss Milborne after the final flight.
While Russell recalled winning a race at the Sunbury track a few years ago for Emma Lavelle, it was Limerick-based Byrnes’ first Kempton runner.
“The conditions of the race appealed because she’s a fair hurdler back in Ireland, but she wasn’t penalised for this,” said Byrnes.
“Apart from Quevega, she’d be as good as any other mare and if there was a chance she could get in the first half dozen at Cheltenham (in the mares’ hurdle), you’d have to consider it.
“The clerk of the course says there is a race back here on December 27 and we’ll have a look at that. I wouldn’t rule out another run over fences, maybe in the spring.”
Around a dozen members of the Knockfierna Syndicate had made the journey across.
Their name is taken from a large hill a few miles from Byrnes’ stable in Ballingarry.
* Grands Crus could still run in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The David Pipe-trained grey was pulled up as the 7-4 favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his return at Cheltenham, but has since undergone a wind operation.
Pipe said Grands Crus, who won the Grade One Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day last season, is making good progress and remains in contention for the King George.
“Leading wind specialist Geoff Lane found a problem and he has since had a minor corrective procedure,” the Pond House handler told his website, www.davidpipe.com.
“He is progressing well and there is still a chance that he will make the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, although we will give him all the time he needs.
“He is far too good a horse to risk bringing back too quickly, so we will just let him tell us when he is ready.”
* Tofino Bay could revert to novice company following his gutsy victory in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old put up a likeable display in testing conditions to take the Ladbrokes-sponsored prize on only his third start over fences.
With that success under the horse’s belt, trainer Dessie Hughes could pitch Tofino Bay in another handicap chase or run him back in novice class to give him more experience.
“It was a good performance and his first handicap,” said the Curragh handler.
“He goes on heavy ground, that’s the secret.
“He jumps exceptionally well, has a good cruising pace and goes on the ground. That’s a big plus.
“We’ll see what the handicapper gave him for it. There are plenty of options for him as he is still a novice so he can go back into a staying novice chase.”
Weapon’s Amnesty could have his first run since the 2010 Cheltenham Festival next month. The nine-year-old, last seen winning the RSA Chase, is pleasing trainer Charles Byrnes, who is considering running him in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
“Weapon’s Amnesty is back in full training and I’m happy enough with him,” said the County Limerick handler. “He had quite a bad leg injury but I will probably make an entry for him at Christmas time.
“It’s not easy to place him so it will probably have to be the Lexus.”
