PADDY POWER make last year's winner, Collier Bay, 11 to 4 favourite to repeat his victory in the AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. But as there is still some slight doubt about the Cheltenham Champion hurdler travelling - he is also engaged at Haydock on Saturday - and he also might not be fully be wound up, what appear extremely generous odds may appeal to only the most adventurous of ante-post punters.
Bimsey, who is also engaged at Haydcock, will be partnered by Tony McCoy if, as expected, he runs at Leopardstown. He is on offer at 7 to 2, while Zabadi, also engaged at Haydock, is a 4 to 1 chance. Aidan O'Brien's hopes, Theatreworld and Urubande, are available at 5 to 1. Richard Dunwoody had been booked for Urubande.
All the leading chasers in both this country and Britain are included in the entries for the Hennessy Gognac Gold Cup, to be run at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 2nd. The home team include Imperial Call, Danoli, Dorans Pride, Harcon and Merry Gale, with One Man, Rough Quest, Coome Hill and The Grey Monk among the possible visitors.
To have racing on five successive days in this country in January must be verging on the unique, but there has been a great response by trainers and this afternoon at Fairyhouse, where the sequence ends, there is a more than satisfactory declaration of 85 horses.
The disqualification of Boro Bow after she had won a second bumper at Naas in November has proved an expensive mishap. Not only has the mare raced four times more on the flat in an effort to make up for that mishap, but racegoers made her a hot favourite on three of those occasions.
It looks as if her connections have finally despaired of her recording that elusive second win on the flat, for she runs over obstacles for the first time this afternoon in the Fairyhouse EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
A daughter of that versatile performer, Boro Quarter, whose triumphs included a Galway Plate, Boro Bow looks to have plenty of ability and if jumping adequately may account for Raheen River, who ran a promising race over hurdles when sixth to Clifdon Fog at Clonmel.
But for unseating Charlie Swan at the final fence at Punchestown on Monday, it appears Creative Blaze would probably have beaten the winner, Shining Willow. So, with a clear round and a 6lb swing in her favour, Creative Blaze should be the one this time. It is never quite that easy in racing, however, and today's extra half mile is what Shining Willow is supposed to require. The Limerick winner, Royal Rosy, could also prove a spoilsport, but Creative Blaze gets the nod.
