SATURDAY
There should be no shortage of domestic racing today although Punchestown is dependent on passing a 7.30 inspection this morning. A severe overnight frost is forecast.
"We have been told that the temperature could get to between 3 and -6 celsius and we are taking all the precautions necessary at the fences. Now we must keep our fingers crossed," said the Punchestown spokesman Charlie Murless yesterday.
In contrast, tomorrow's John Durkan Chase does not appear to be in danger as the forecast is for much milder conditions tonight. However, the Punchestown executive will be anxious for a quick thaw this morning. There are no such problems for Cork, though, where there are a number of competitive contests in a valuable card.
None more so than the Pierse Group Novice Chase, which may have only six runners but looks sure to be a cracking race. The progressive Palette has an obvious chance as do Puget Blue and Spirit Dancer, who both crashed out of their last contests.
Preference is for Ambrleigh House, who is reunited with a two-mile trip and with David Casey who rode him to an impressive victory over that distance at Gowran Park in October. Since then he has been beaten behind His Song over two and half miles at Punchestown, but trainer Michael Hourigan believes Amberleigh House to be a possible Arkle Trophy candidate and conditions today look ideal.
Noel Meade's rider Paul Carberry will be in Sandown to ride Hill Society in the Tingle Creek and that allows Charlie Swan to renew his previously ultra-successful partnership with Noel Meade.
The Co Meath trainer sends Kings Banquet for the Grade Three Stayers Novice Hurdle and this horse may just be able to give weight away all round. Swan's mount was beaten by To Your Honour last time but that was hardly a disgrace.
Swan can also take the handicap hurdle with the pacey Darbela, while there is bound to be a lot of interest in the hurdling debut of Colonel Yeager in the opener and this dual-bumper winner should have little difficulty scoring if jumping at least adequately.
Should Punchestown get the goahead, then the highlight may well be the return of Risk Of Thunder to the cross country course which he has made his own in recent years. The Sean Connery-owned banks specialist will have a monster 12-5 to lump around but his talent around here is such that it's almost impossible to see him beaten.
Risk Of Thunder's rider Enda Bolger could also be on the mark in the bumper with Chapel Choir; and another rider who could have a very good day is Garrett Cotter.
Cotter can get the better of Sarsfield The Man in the beginners chase with Super Dealer and could also be on the mark for trainer Dessie Hughes in the opener with Wolseley Lord. The drop back to two and a half miles in the handicap chase could also work to the advantage of his mount Old Abbey.
Coral's sponsorship of Chepstow's Rehearsal Chase is under severe threat after today's race drew just three runners at the overnight declaration deadline.
The Barking firm will also undertake an overall review of its sponsorship commitments, which include the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, the Welsh National and Eclipse Stakes as well as valuable sprints at Haydock, Newmarket and York, early in the New Year.
The Coral Rehearsal Chase Limited Handicap, carrying £30,000 in added prize money, will be contested by King George VI Chase winner See More Business, Escartefigue and Dom Samourai. Despite the quality of the field, the lack of quantity renders sponsors' efforts unrewarded, according to Coral's public relations officer Simon Clare.
"We are all desperately disappointed with the three-runner turn-out for tomorrow's race," he said.
"There is no reason why this shouldn't be at least a six-runner race if not an eight-runner race with the money concerned. "Prize money goes down to fourth place, which is wasted.
"After discussions with Coral's trading director, Trevor Beaumont, there is no doubt we are going to have to look very seriously at this race."
Coral commit over £300,000 annually to horserace sponsorship.
