SOUND MAN, who bids to win tomorrow's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown for the second year running, is in top form and the going should be ideal for him. Trainer Edward O'Grady said yesterday that if he wins he will seriously consider sending him to Kempton for the King George VI Chase.
O'Grady seems confident Sound Man will stay Kempton's relatively easy three miles and the entries for the St Stephen's Day feature are a little disappointing.
Tom Foley was very upbeat yesterday about Danoli's wellbeing. "He ran away with Padraig English on the gallops this morning, he said. Danoli, who fell at the third fence at Fairyhouse recently, runs at Navan tomorrow week followed by Leopardstown's Dennys Gold Medal Chase.
At Thurles yesterday the Arthur Moore-trained Amble Speedy and his partner Ciaran O'Brien were almost knocked down by the sharply veering Glint Of Eagles at the second last in the Goodwill Beginners Chase, but recovered well to lead over the last and win by five lengths at generous odds. The winner, who needed three miles as a hurdler, was ridden by O'Brien after his intend partner, Frank Woods, injured a leg when brought down on Bolero Dancer in the previous race.
Jay Man initiated a well-executed double for Charlie Swan, landing the Golden Maiden Hurdle from the Tom Foley-trained favourite Eton Gale.
Jay Man, owned and bred by Edward Kearns, is the first winner trained by his 24-year-old son who received his licence in January. The horse has had his training setbacks, fracturing a joint after winning his bumper and suffering from muscular problems. Eddie Kearns has seven National Hunt horses in training in Co Waterford and will have seven more ready for the Flat next year.
The seven times champion is invariably hard to beat in a finish and so it proved in the Cahir Hurdle when his mount, Leamhog, battled between horses to get up and beat the favourite Ballyrihy Boy - trained by Charlie's father Donald - and course winner Matts Dilemma.
Swan pulled out all the stops in attempting to complete a treble on Montelisa in the Munster Handicap Hurdle but his mount had little room on the inside before and after the last and went under by a head to the 20 to 1 outsider Run Rose Run. The winner rallied well for 5lb claimer Johnny Butler to head Ancient Historian and hold the persistent challenge of Montelisa.
The bookies had much the better of the argument in several races, setting off with another 20 to 1 winner when Denis Curtin's Hard News managed to beat Three Rivers in the Templemore Maiden Hurdle. The hard pulling, Dermot Kelly-trained Hard News, who paid 117 to 1 on the Tote, was the first leg of a double for 3lb claimer Garrett Cotter completed in more comfortable style on Hemisphere in the Kilsheelan Handicap Chase.
Making all the running, and seemingly enjoying himself, the Dessie Hughes-trained Hemisphere jumped like a stag and was never in danger of defeat. He was raised 6lb after an easy victory at Fairyhouse recently, his first appearance following a 20-month absence.
