Gowran Park Preview:Today's Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase fixture gets a reminder of its illustrious past when the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King makes his long-awaited comeback at Gowran Park - presuming the track passes an 8.0am inspection.
Hopes were high on that score yesterday with the ground described as raceable after a morning inspection and another one reportedly called for purely precautionary reasons.
Of course the days when Gold Cup winners routinely lined up for the Thyestes itself are now firmly in the past and instead Kicking King takes on just three rivals in the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase which has been transferred from Fairyhouse.
It's over two years since Tom Taaffe's star collected his second King George VI crown and today's test over an obviously inadequate two-mile trip is understandably exploratory.
Owner Conor Clarkson has already expressed the view that the horse, who is quoted at 40 to 1 for another Gold Cup triumph in March, will be retired if not giving some indication of emulating former glories but even Kicking King in his pomp would find today's task tough.
Whereas plenty of this afternoon's runners will be tested by the heavy ground Nickname will thrive on it and last year's Normans Grove winner should have something of a routine task in beating the 2006 champion chaser Newmill who is likely to detest the ground conditions. Central House is doubtful starter due to a foot problem.
As for Kicking King, seeing the 10-year-old back and returning sound will be enough for many.
In contrast, the €100,000 feature looks like it could turn into something of a career highlight for Royal Man who looks a reasonable value bet to secure a second Thyestes for his trainer Charlie Swan. This Is Serious eight years ago was Swan's previous victory and although that horse was a dour stayer capable of winning over four miles, a drop in trip should suit Royal Man perfectly.
The Michael O'Leary-trained horse found Sea Diva too good over three miles and five at Fairyhouse last month and then followed that up with a 10-length victory in an Opportunity Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
"Sea Diva beat us when the trip probably just stretched him. But he seems to get three miles well," said Swan, who sounded quietly confident yesterday.
"He seems well, he will like the heavy ground and he'll have a nice weight on his back. He's also at the right end of the handicap and seems to be improving."
Newbay Prop has been the ante-post favourite to complete a Paddy Power-Thyestes double despite a 10lb hike in the ratings for that narrow defeat of Sound Witness at Leopardstown.
Tony Martin won a Thyestes with Dun Doire two years ago and although Newbay Prop looks a more exposed type than him, he will have the considerable advantage of relishing the ground conditions. The same can also be said for last year's winner Homer Wells but it will hardly be a plus for the topweight Point Barrow.
There will be no more popular winner of the Grade Three Alo Duffin Galmoy Hurdle than Sweet Kiln and now that the Michael Bowe-trained mare has proven her stamina over three miles with a Leopardstown win over Christmas she should prove very hard to beat.
Prince Erik, sixth in last year's Irish Derby, should go close in the opener while Big Zeb could find the concession of 16lb to another mare, J'y Vole, too much in the novice chase.
• There is to be a 7.30am inspection at Navan tomorrow morning ahead of the scheduled Saturday fixture. The ground at the Co Meath course was unraceable yesterday.
