Racing News and preview: Holy Orders, the horse which hit the world headlines for all the wrong reasons in Australia, could get the chance to redeem his reputation at Fairyhouse at the end of the month.
Trainer Willie Mullins has earmarked the Grade One Hatton's Grace Hurdle in 11 days as a possible comeback race for his enigmatic charge, who famously refused to gallop in the days before the Melbourne Cup.
Not surprisingly, Holy Orders didn't show in the Flemington showpiece, but he is back riding out at Mullins's Co Carlow yard and may take on Sacundai and Solerina in the two and a half mile race at Fairyhouse.
"Australia was not a great experience," Mullins conceded. "He is just not the type of horse you can take away for that length of time."
Holy Orders, however, is already a proven Grade One winner having got the better of Sacundai by half a length in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle at last May's Punchestown festival.
Michael Hourigan's focus will undoubtedly be on the reappearance of his stable star Beef Or Salmon in tomorrow's Clonmel Oil Chase, but first he will be taking care of business at the Downpatrick meeting this afternoon.
Hourigan sends Jolly Moonbeam on the long journey north for the first Beginners' Chase, and the mare could find herself up against it with Woodys Deep Ocean in opposition.
Significantly, however, Hourigan has indicated that Beef Or Salmon could make his first visit to Cheltenham since dramatically falling at the third fence in the Gold Cup last March in January's Pilar Chase.
It would allow the horse to get some valuable experience over the fences, but the trainer insists he is focusing first on tomorrow and then the Ericsson Chase.
Paul Carberry could also be on the score sheet today with Loulou Nivernais in the opening maiden hurdle. This one ran well behind Shauna's Vision and this is not a great contest.
The Opportunity Handicap, however, could have the bookies running scared from the hat-trick-seeking Coccinelle.
The Michael Cunningham- trained runner followed up a Fairyhouse success with a victory at Clonmel.
A four pound penalty for that six-length defeat of Brigadier Brown doesn't look enough to stop the streak.
Heraclitean Fire won at Down Royal on very fast going last time out, but, with the new cut in the ground, Endastory can finally get his head in front in the handicap chase.
