Hill Society and Klairon Davis will represent Irish stables in Saturday' Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown, for which 10 horses were confirmed yesterday at the five-day stage. Hill Society, awarded a race at Cork last time out when Klairon Davis was runner-up, is also engaged in Sunday's Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.
But trainer Noel Meade said: "He goes to Sandown and Paul Carberry will ride him. He was left in at Punchestown just in case there is any problem with transport. It looks a good race at Sandown but he seems in great form."
Arthur Moore has booked Tom Treacy to partner Klairon Davis.
Ladbrokes have made impressive Peterborough Chase winner Edredon Bleu their 2 to 1 favourite.
"This looks like being a classic two-mile chase, with most of the top horses in attendance," said their spokesman Andy Clifton.
All bar two of the original entries stood their ground, Gales Cavalier and Hurricane Lamp being the only withdrawals from the Grade One contest. Or Royal, third in the Peterborough, is one of Martin Pipe's two entries, along with Challenger du Luc.
Lake Kariba, who had Edredon Bleu well held in fourth when winning last month's William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, is set to represent Paul Nicholls in the two-mile contest.
Tim Murphy will ride Lake Kariba, with stable jockey Joe Tizzard aboard See More Business at Chepstow.
Betting: 2-1 Edredon Bleu, 11-4 Lake Kariba, 9-2 Hill Society, 8-1 Direct Route, 9-1 Klairon Davis, 10-1 Celibate, Or Royal, 12-1 Challenger du Luc, 16-1 Mandys Mantino, 25-1 Chief's Song.
Noel Meade has three five-day entries, Nomadic, Aboriginal and Snow Dragon, in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle on the same Sandown card. Nomadic was flattered when beaten half a length by Istabraq at Fairyhouse on Sunday, but would be a major fancy if he runs on Saturday, while Snow Dragon cruised home at Fairyhouse on Saturday and would also have strong claims.
Another Irish-trained entry for the big handicap hurdle, won last year by Arthur Moore's Major Jamie at odds of 25 to 1, is the Christy Roche-trained Khairabar. "Khairabar is a possible runner," Roche said yesterday. "The horse is very well and I'll be speaking to Mr McManus (the owner) tonight, then we'll look at the race in the morning before making a decision."
Martin Pipe has the sponsor's ante-post favourite Blowing Wind, Potentate, Out Ranking and Vent D'Aout entered in the £50,000-added contest.
Blowing Wind, priced at 9 to 2, has won his last three starts, culminating in a fine victory in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April.
Bookmakers Coral yesterday reported money for Blowing Wind for the Champion Hurdle in March and have cut the five-year-old to 12 to 1 from 14's.
Betting: 9-2 Blowing Wind, 6-1 Nomadic, 71 Snow Dragon, 8-1 Real Estate, 9-1 Serenus, 10-1 Khairabar, Racketball, 12-1 Shahrur, Vent D'Aout, 14-1 Out Ranking, Polar Prospect, 16-1 Fatehalkhair, Simons Castle, 20-1 Belmarita, Potentate, Road Racer, Star Rage, 25-1 Aboriginal, Mister Rm.
Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien's Second Empire is among a high class entry of 62 for the Dubai World Cup at Nad al Sheba next March. The mile and a quarter sand race, which carried a first prize of £1.46 million this year, has also attracted the defending champion, Silver Charm.
"The overall quality of the nominations is very pleasing," said Dubai World Cup committee chairman Michael Osborne.
