RACING: Be My Belle's attempt to become just the second horse to win the Goulding Thyestes Chase back to back will be supported by considerable stable confidence at Gowran Park today.
Locally trained by Seán Treacy, Be My Belle comes into the traditional winter highlight on the back of a fine run in the Leopardstown Chase which has convinced many she can emulate the only previous successive winner in the 51-year history of the race, Wylde Hide (1995-96.)
Yesterday the bookies rated her chances too with Cashmans making her a 3 to 1 joint favourite with the shortest priced of the Willie Mullins-trained trio, Hedgehunter.
However, the presence of him, the former Hennessy winner Alexander Banquet and the ante-post gamble, Satco Express, still hasn't dampened Treacy's enthusiasm.
"I know she will give a big running because she always does. We only have 22 horses here and she has been the star that has kept the place on the map," he said yesterday.
"I don't think the weight (10st 12lb) will be a big burden to her. Cloudy Bays got away from her the last time. Timmy (Murphy) said he got to his tail but didn't have the gears. So he was tender and kept the Thyestes in mind. She still finished 20 lengths ahead of the third and the winner is improving no end," he added.
Last year Be My Belle came home two and a half lengths clear of Takagi but the Edward O'Grady-trained stayer is coming back for another crack on 4lb better terms.
The last of Takagi's six career victories came all of 14 months ago but he has had only two starts this term, the first over fences in the Troytown and the last over hurdles at Leopardstown which provoked enough encouragement that he can give O'Grady a second win in the race 25 years after the first.
Takagi was noted running on with gusto over three miles behind Royal All Star and a light campaign to date can start to pay off now.
Just 10 line up with Paul Carberry on The Bunny Boiler and Rule Supreme representing novice form from the Feltham at Kempton.
The real novice interest though could come from the dour staying Satco Express who represents form with both Pizarro and Nil Desperandum. This is his first attempt at handicap company and while he rates a real threat, Takagi looks a value alternative.
Paul Carberry returns to action having incurred bruising to his kidney area on Sunday and can kick off with an immediate winner in the maiden hurdle.
The ex-Andre Fabre trained Power Elite was a Stakes winning two year at Deauville and also was Listed placed at St Cloud last year. That level of class can overcome his jumping inexperience.
Carberry will also rate his chances on the likely odds-on favourite for the Grade Three Stayers' Hurdle Trial on Rosaker and will be the third jockey to ride the Coral Cup winner Xenophon over fences in the novice chase.
Jumping errors have blighted both Xenophon's previous chase starts and in the circumstances a watching brief could prove best. Boneyarrow's experience looks an alternative argument.
The Killarney winner Burntoakboy ran fourth to Fatherofthebride in a hot bumper at Galway in September and is one to keep on the right side of today against Ardyne Bridge.
