HORSE RACING: Illness denied Ned Kelly a pop at the Champion Hurdle proper but a victory in today's Punchestown version can taste sweet.
Since being ruled out of Cheltenham, Ned Kelly has returned to win on the flat at the Curragh and trainer Edward O'Grady is confident there is another big effort in the horse.
"He has had a very easy season really by the fact he didn't go to Cheltenham. I hope the Curragh has helped him and he seems in very good form," he said yesterday.
Just five horses oppose Ned Kelly, to be ridden by Paul Carberry for the first time, in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle but they include the English raider Landing Light and Willie Mullins's novice pair, Adamant Approach and Davenport Milenium.
The latter won on Wednesday and Adamant Approach was third on Tuesday and Mullins said: "It's the end of the season for them all so we will give it a go. I was disappointed with Adamant Approach earlier in the week and the trip is probably short of Davenport Milenium's best but they look in good shape."
Landing Light deliberately missed Liverpool to get over his Cheltenham fifth to Hors La Loi where Nicky Henderson considered the horse ran a bit flat. "He is better than that and he seems well but Ned Kelly is good and I was impressed with Davenport Milenium," Henderson said.
The other big pot is the David Austin Chase where the in-form Noel Meade saddles four of the 18 runners. Paul Carberry has elected to ride Royal Jake and although he has got it wrong already this season, notably The Bunny Boiler in the Irish National, the jockey's decision must be significant.
The Irish National runner-up, Give Over, tops the field and the Cheltenham four-mile winner Rith Dubh is also in opposition but if he stays, Royal Jake looks to have a winning weight. Ross River was impressive on a winning debut at Fairyhouse and the Stewart runner could be the value in the bumper while Ashwell Boy should take the handicap chase.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy completed a near 28 to 1 treble at Perth yesterday on three favourites - Full Irish (4 to 9), Creon (4 to 1) and Cambrian Dawn (3 to 1) - taking his tally for the season to 285.
