YOULNEVERWALKALONE will take his place alongside some of the cream of Irish jump racing at the upcoming Fairyhouse two-day fixture but will do so over fences.
The Hatton's Grace Hurdle had been an option for the Christy Roche-trained horse but after consulting with owner JP McManus, Roche has decided to launch Youlneverwalkalone on a novice chase campaign instead.
"We will probably go chasing with him. That was the plan all along but it won't be this weekend at Naas. Instead he will go for a novice chase at Fairyhouse the weekend after next," Roche said yesterday.
The move means Youlneverwalkalone will miss out on a Hatton's Grace repeat bid, and another clash with Ned Kelly and Limestone Lad, but he does join a formidable novice team owned by McManus.
Risk Accessor has already won over fences and the fencing debut of Le Coudray, postponed last weekend after the horse was found to be off his feed, is not far away.
"Le Coudray is back in work now and he will run in the next two weeks. The first two and a half mile novice to come up and he will be there," said Roche, who also reported his star bumper horse Like-A-Butterfly has emerged in good shape from her hurdling debut.
"She's come out of Navan well and will run in the Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse," he confirmed.
Cashmans of Cork yesterday began betting on the Hatton's Grace, and made the 1999 winner, Limestone Lad, their 6 to 4 favourite for a repeat. They then go: 2/1 Ned Kelly, 7/2 Liss A Paoraigh, 8/1 Bannow Bay, 10/1 Ansar, 14/1 Catch Ball, 20/1 bar.
As well as the Hatton's Grace and the Royal Bond, the other Grade One contest up for grabs at Fairyhouse in 11 days' time will be the Drinmore Chase. Macs Gildoran looks like heading a high class group of novices bidding to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner, Sackville.
A link to some of the top novice form so far this season will be on view this afternoon at Downpatrick, where Sigma Dotcomm tries to regain winning form after two dramatic falls.
Paul Carberry's mount was challenging Risk Accessor at the last fence at Thurles on his second chase start when crashing, and only got as far as the third behind Dark Magic at Naas.
A debut win at Gowran indicates the ability is there and possibly the easier fences, and lesser opposition, can see Sigma Dotcomm score and provide Carberry with a 56th winner of an ultra-successful campaign.
Prince Of Tara finally ended up winning his bumper at Navan last April but looks a type to do well over flights and score for the man busy chasing Carberry in the table, Barry Geraghty.
A combined total of 720 entries were announced yesterday for the 2002 Dubai World Cup meeting by Dubai World Cup Committee chairman, Les Benton.
The $6million World Cup is the highlight of the richest day of racing in the world, which will take place on March 23rd.
Johannesburg, the champion two-year-old of this year in Europe and America, has been given an entry by Aidan O'Brien in the Group Two UAE Derby. Another dozen horses from Ballydoyle are entered for the other races.
"With what has occurred throughout the world over the last few months we are absolutely thrilled at what we have received and proud of the way the international racing community has unified to ensure that the sport continues to expand in the Emirates and around the world," said Benton.
