RACING/Weekend previews: Success for Solerina in tomorrow's Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse can prove even more special than usual for the James Bowe team.
If Solerina can make it back-to-back wins in the Hatton's Grace it will be a remarkable fifth victory in six years for the family run operation in the Grade One feature.
It will also provide a timely lift for the Bowe's after being forced to call time for the season on the veteran superstar Limestone Lad, the horse that started it all off for them with that epic defeat of Istabraq in 1999.
"He's got a recurrence of the old tendon problem he had so he is on the easy list. It's unlikely he'll run again this season. Everything is on hold," said Michael Bowe yesterday. "We will see around Christmas what we will do with him."
Limestone Lad went on to win the Hatton's Grace twice more (2001 and '02) and the two-and-a-half-mile trip on winter ground proved to be his ideal conditions. It seems to be a similar story with Solerina.
"She does seem to like the race too but there is no explanation really for why we've done so well in it," said Bowe. "Solerina seems a stronger mare this year, carrying more condition, but that's no guarantee she'll run faster."
The pre-race build up this year has focussed on the clash of Solerina and the Cheltenham winner Brave Inca whose trainer Colm Murphy is expecting an improvement on for a run at Down Royal.
However, Bowe said: "I've the height of respect for Brave Inca but I'm probably even more afraid of Sacundai. People have short memories but he finished ahead of us in the Morgiana last year and is a very good horse. I know he hasn't run in a while but Edward O'Grady will have him ready first time."
The trip could be too short for the French Champion Hurdler Rule Supreme but distance, fitness and form all seem to favour Solerina who can make further in-roads on her famous stable mate's record.
A less than perfect scope yesterday morning means that Mark The Man misses the Pierse Group Drinmore Chase but Noel Meade has some replacement on his hands in Watson Lake. This horse's chasing debut at Navan had the champion trainer buzzing and although the original plan was to keep Watson Lake for two mile races, the strapping six-year-old should have too much class for just four opponents.
The nine horses for the Betfair Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is the biggest Grade One field of the day and there will be a huge Kerry cheer if Total Enjoyment can make it two from two over jumps for her new jockey Barry Geraghty.
The bare form of her Down Royal success last month doesn't read particularly well but Ruby Walsh, committed to Major Vernon tomorrow, was impressed and trainer Tom Cooper reports that Total Enjoyment has sharpened up considerably for the run.
The amateur JP Magnier cannot exercise his 5lb claim on Master Albert and Royal Paradise would appear to relish further than two miles. An each-way option could be Justified who was slightly unlucky behind Wild Passion at Navan.
Jasmin D'Oudairies was a smooth winner at Clonmel on his last start and although dropping back from two and a half miles the Mullins horse should make his presence felt in the opening chase.
Mingus Madness has ground to make up on Naas form behind Albert Mooney in the bumper but the Meade runner is worth a shout in the last.
