RACING/Punchestown Preview: There won't be a more popular winner at Punchestown today if Kenilworth can come home first in the Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle.
Once trained by John Oxx, the horse is now in the care of Monaghan's most famous racing son, Oliver Brady, who is renowned for his extravagant celebrations in the winners' enclosure.
Compared to last season, when he had eight winners, Brady hasn't had the chance to indulge as much in his "Up Monaghan" monologues, but Kenilworth can change that.
For a horse that was fourth to the subsequent Group One winner Black Sam Bellamy on his second start on the flat, it's a surprise that Kenilworth still hasn't won a race.
But he gave every sign of changing that when a fine second to Party Airs in the Denny, when he had Harchibald well behind.
Despite that, Harchibald is as low as 20 to 1 for the Triumph Hurdle, a price shared by today's dark horse, Smuggler's Song.
The McManus-owned horse was just 10 lengths off the double Derby and Breeders Cup winner High Chaparral in the Ballysax last season, and picked up the Listed Silver Stakes afterwards.
He is much the best flat horse in the race, but those hurdles and the "soft to heavy" ground mean it's a different game now.
Kenilworth improved dramatically for his first start over flights, is proven on testing conditions and would be a wonderful tonic for his trainer, who is fighting a brave battle against cancer.
There will be a lot of interest in the appearance of the top hunter Sheltering, considering the bug that has plagued the Edward O'Grady yard in recent weeks.
Winner of 12 hunter chases since 1999, Sheltering has to give 9lb to the northern raider Bellaney Lady, but O'Grady was playing a low key game yesterday.
"He had been working very well, but with the frost and everything else, he was probably fitter before Christmas than he is now," O'Grady said.
Goldstreet brings a 126 rating to the opener which looks misleading in his current form, and the Cork-trained Commanche Course could be a better option.
Scarthy Lad's stable companion returned from a long lay-off to finish second at Navan behind Jeff De Chalmont and should come on.
Periwinkle Lad bounced back from tangling with Bizet over Christmas and bolted up by 20 lengths at Tramore last time out. The McNamara runner is upped 9lb for that but still has a shout in the handicap hurdle.
Rattothetattat is 3lb higher in the ratings for failing by a head at Cork last time yet still stands out in the handicap chase.
