The race-meeting that follows on the National Coursing Meeting is one of the major fixtures in the Clonmel calendar and on this occasion Foxchapel King, who represents local trainer Mouse Morris, can be the equine star of the week.
Last season he was in the top flight amongst the novices and finished 6th of 18 to French Holly in the Royal & SunAlliance Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.
First time out over fences at Thurles in October he defeated Johnny Brushaside after getting away with a last fence blunder. He has twice hit the deck since but once the kinks in his fencing have been ironed out, he should prove a good money spinner.
One hopes that he does not provide Jimmy Hayes, the bookmaker sponsor of the novice chase, with further justification for increasing his contribution next year.
By the time the Foxchapel King race comes around trainer and rider could have already posted two other winners on the board through Somemanforoneman (1.45) and Master Of Illusion (3.15).
Snow Dragon, who has the makings of a live Noel Meade challenger for the County Hurdle, is napped to beat Sporadic Missile in the McCarthy's Hotel Hurdle. He is well in at the weights having been placed to the smart handicapper Limestone Lad at Leopardstown.
Michael Hourigan is always a factor to be reckoned with in hunters chases down south and he has secured the services of Philip Fenton for Not A Razu in the J F O'Sullivan Hunters Chase.
Fenton has another good ride earlier in the day Okay Ocee in the Tynan Construction Maiden Hurdle. He has yet to win over hurdles but on his 15-length Listowel bumpers race defeat of Itsmothershoprse, this can only be a matter of time and experience.
Willie Mullins, whose attempt at winning a fourth consecutive Cheltenham Festival Bumper may eventually rest upon Red Morocco, may pick off today's bumper through the medium of Falas Lad, who was 2nd to Zaffield over hurdles at Down Royal.
Philip Hobbs sent out winner number 60 of the season at Newton Abbot yesterday when Atavistic took his first race over fences with a 26-length call over Christchurch. The success also got Richard Dunwoody back among the winners following a couple of weeks on the injured list.
Kieren Fallon was on target in Hong Kong yesterday when riding his 14th winner of the season aboard Ultra Tension at Sha Tin. Ultra Tension took the Duddell Handicap by three quarters of a length from Ascot Hero.
Brett Doyle moved onto number 13 for the season on Winning Express, who hacked up in a sprint race on the all-weather.
Apprentice Gavin Faulkner was suspended for two days (FEBRUARY 12th and 13th) for careless riding on fourth placed Seren Teg in the Oregano Handicap at Wolverhampton yesterday.
Cool Dawn will bid for a second successive victory in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup next month without the benefit of a prep-race.
