An intriguing clash between Ireland's top two-mile chasers looks like it could be on the cards at Punchestown this Sunday with the current title holder, Newmill, set to tackle the rising star, Nickname.
The soft-ground loving Nickname has been heavily backed for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in recent weeks after a run of success that he will now try to extend in the Byrne Group Tied Cottage Chase at the weekend.
His trainer, Martin Brassil, confirmed Nickname a definite starter but among the 15 other entries left in the Grade Two event at yesterday's forfeit stage is Newmill and the indications are that he may well have his first start in three months in the same contest.
"The ground is the thing, and while it might be a bit gluey, it does look like things are drying out in a big way which helps us," said Newmill's trainer, John Murphy.
"I would say there is a strong possibility he will run as long as there is no rain before the weekend. The horse is in fantastic form but if we don't run at Punchestown, we will wait for the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran (February 17th) instead," he added.
The good news for the west Cork trainer is that the "nicest ground we've had all season" is being predicted by the Punchestown authorities ahead of the weekend.
"We're soft at the moment with a settled forecast and although things don't dry up as much as you might think at this time of year, I think we might get to yielding to soft by Sunday," said manager Richie Galway.
In contrast to Newmill, that might not be ideal news for the confirmed mudlark Nickname who is as low as 8 to 1 for the Champion Chase following an impressive success under Ruby Walsh at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago.
He again looks likely to clash with Central House and Watson Lake at Punchestown and Walsh will take the reins again if he is available. Niall "Slippers" Madden will step in if he isn't.
"It's certainly not going to be good ground by Sunday. In fact, if anything, it might be dead. But the horse is in very good form since his last race and the plan is to run," said Martin Brassil who is looking forward to a clash with the reigning champ.
"It will give us a good idea whether we will have any business going to Cheltenham or not, if the ground comes up soft at the festival," he added.
One horse unlikely to run, however, is Hi Cloy who is instead set to wait for an alternative date at Ascot but his trainer, Michael Hourigan, does have Kerryhead Windfarm as a contender for the three-and-a-half-mile Grand National Trial.
Sunday's other highlight will be the Grade Two novice hurdle which has a 16-strong entry dominated by the current Supreme Novices Hurdle ante-post favourite, De Valira.
The Michael O'Brien-trained star is a 5 to 1 market leader for the festival opener with some firms and this weekend's race has been the plan for him since narrowly beating Catch Me at Leopardstown's Christmas festival.
However, a workout this morning could be crucial to De Valira taking his chance.
"He got cast in his box over the weekend and hasn't done much since. But all being well, he will run on Sunday," O'Brien said.
Also among the entries are the beaten Pierse Hurdle favourite Kendor Dine and Tom Hogan's versatile horse Kalderon.
One definite opponent though will be Perce Rock, a beaten favourite in a Sandown Grade One on his last start, and a spokesman for his trainer Tommy Stack said: "He has come out of that well and is an intended runner on Sunday."
Three Sunday dates later this year have been changed by Horse Racing Ireland in reaction to the GAA's decision not to switch the All-Ireland senior finals back to their old dates.
Cork's September 2nd fixture will now be run on September 9th, in a direct switch with Killarney.
Listowel's September 16th date is switched to September 23rd.
The original fixture list was drawn up on the understanding that the football and hurling finals would revert to their old dates, after last year's switch due to the Ryder Cup, but the matches will be played on the first and third Sundays again this year.
