Brave Inca is already one of the favourites for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and trainer Colm Murphy is considering sending his unbeaten stable companion Feathard Lady to Cheltenham next month in an attempt to stake her own championship claim.
Murphy is lining up the Bula Hurdle on December 10th as a suitable opportunity for Feathard Lady's continued progression through the ranks.
That progress already sees the mare as low as 20 to 1 with some firms for the Champion Hurdle after she stretched her winning streak to five in a row on her seasonal comeback at Down Royal earlier this month.
"We haven't many options and ideally I wouldn't like to run her over two and a half miles so we're half thinking of the Bula at Cheltenham," the Co Wexford-based trainer said yesterday.
"I would like to step her up without actually going to Grade One level just yet so that race might fit in well. I also wouldn't like to drop her in at the deep end all of a sudden although she is getting to that stage."
The Bula is a Grade Two contest over an extended two miles and was won last year by Edward O'Grady's Back In Front who beat the subsequent stayers champion Inglis Drever by four lengths.
Feathard Lady was an impressive winner of the Anglo Irish Bank Hurdle at Down Royal 18 days ago when beating Sky's The Limit by four lengths under Ruby Walsh. She also won two bumpers and two hurdle races in 2004.
Murphy gave an upbeat report on Brave Inca after his winning return to action at Punchestown on Sunday although there is some uncertainty about where the horse is likely to run next. "I'm not sure about that. We're going to give it some time and maybe consider the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse. There aren't too many other options but I would rather not go two and a half miles," said Murphy.
"I suppose there is the Bula for him too but we will have to discuss it. Fairyhouse is high up the list and after that, all being well, we will go to Leopardstown at Christmas. It will be much the same as last year," he added. Brave Inca is a general 6 to 1 shot for Cheltenham in March with only the 5 to 1 favourite Hardy Eustace rated above him.
This weekend's chasing feature is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in which two Irish-trained horses, Forget The Past and Jack High, are among the 25 left in after yesterday's forfeit stage. Paddy Power rate the SunAlliance winner Trabolgan as their 7 to 2 favourite but the Irish pair are ranked as outsiders with Forget The Past a 20 to 1 shot and Jack High on 25 to 1.
In addition to the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, Sunday week's big Fairyhouse meeting also includes the Grade One Drinmore Chase which is an option for Dusty Sheehy's unbeaten novice Justified.
"We will have a look at it although his main objective is the €100,000 race at Leopardstown (Durkan New Homes Novice Chase on December 26th). He might not run at Fairyhouse but definitely will run at Leopardstown," said Sheehy yesterday.
Justified was an impressive 14-length winner from Wild Passion at Punchestown on Sunday and is second favourite for the Arkle at Cheltenham. "He is 100 per cent after it. He jumped and galloped well. He's probably a much better chaser than a hurdler. He makes lengths at his fences," Sheehy reported. All going well he will go for the Irish Arkle and then Cheltenham."
Sheehy also hasn't ruled out sending Rathgar Beau to Sandown for the Tingle Creek Chase and another possible clash with Moscow Flyer.
Rathgar Beau famously beat Moscow Flyer at Punchestown in April and his sole start this season yielded a second to War Of Attrition at Clonmel last week. Afterwards the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on December 11th was proposed as a likely objective.
"That's his Irish target but the Tingle Creek is also a possible before that," Sheehy said yesterday before confirming that the Champion Chase will be Rathgar Beau's major target this season.
"Without a doubt he will run in the Champion Chase. He should have run in it last season and probably would have been placed. But hindsight is a great thing," he added.
