IRISH RACING WEEKEND PREVIEWS: TOMORROW IS being billed as "Cheltenham Trials Day" at Naas but amidst the pre-festival anticipation, and appearances by the likes of An Cathaoir Mor and Pittoni, there will also be salutary reminders of events outside racing.
A jockeys “Olympics” in aid of the Goal Haiti Appeal will take place after the second and fourth races with captains Barry Geraghty, Ruby Walsh and Paul Carberry leading four-member teams in a series of events to help raise money for victims of the Haitian earthquake.
The “competitions” are an egg and spoon race, a three-legged race, a football skills challenge and a bicycle race: a fun exercise in delivering something worthwhile.
Naas racecourse itself will also be keenly watching the turnstiles as the authorities there aim to hit the 5,000 crowd mark with a series of promotions including a €15 admission fee that includes a free €5 bet and a free €5 refreshment voucher.
Admission will be free for students and under 18s.
This card last year threw up the subsequent Supreme winner Go Native, while the bumper has produced Cheltenham winners, Hairy Molly (2006) and Pizarro (2002). This time round, much of the pre-festival attention will focus on Pittoni, already as low as 12 to 1 for the Triumph Hurdle, who takes on his elders for the first time in the Grade Two Paddy Power Novice Hurdle won by Go Native last season.
The Charles Byrnes-trained four-year-old impressed in a Grade One at Leopardstown on Hennessy day and it looks significant that his trainer is coming here for a festival prep’ rather than race against other juveniles at Fairyhouse today.
Morning Supreme, a wide-margin winner at Cork last time, represents Willie Mullins but Pittoni’s main threat could come from Grey Soldier, runner-up to Rite Of Passage at Leopardstown, before breaking his maiden in good style.
An Cathaoir Mor is far from certain to line up in the Arkle at Cheltenham but he already holds the Irish Arkle crown after his late pounce on Sports Line, a piece of form that will make him a big player in the Nas Na Riogh Chase, despite a Grade One penalty.
Henry De Bromhead’s runner is very smart at his best but needs conditions like soft ground and a fast pace to show that ability. Taking short odds about him might be expensive and Tally Em Up comes here in form.
Tomorrow’s other Grade Two is the two-mile chase in which Tranquil Sea warms up for the Ryanair Chase against his fellow 157-rated opponent Scotsirish and last year’s race winner Carthalawn. Scotsirish impressed at Fairyhouse last month and can advertise his own Cheltenham claims, while Sizing Mexico could be the answer to the bumper, the winner of which will be in line for a big bonus if subsequently successful at Cheltenham.
