LEADING hurdlers Danoli and Montelado yesterday remained on course for Cheltenham despite experiencing contrasting fortunes on their comeback at Leopardstown.
The pair feature prominently in ante post betting on the Champion Hurdle on March 12th for which a bumper 66 strong entry - featuring horses from four different countries - was announced yesterday.
Danoli is disputing favouritism after he returned from career threatening injury to finish a close third behind Collier Bay in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on Sunday.
Trainer Tom Foley said yesterday morning: "Muscle wise and body wise Danoli is a bit weary and a little bit sore. But it is nothing worse than you would expect from a horse running for the first time after a lay-off and nothing that one day off won't put right.
"He is quite happy in himself and seems to know that he has done everyone proud. I was thrilled with him yesterday. He will run next in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on February 17th and we can even start thinking of Cheltenham.
"We are taking it one race at a time and it is very difficult to plan ahead but to have got this far with him is beyond our wildest dreams. We have got our fingers crossed it can continue."
Pat Flynn was far from disappointed with Montelado, who was beaten over 12 lengths into fourth place under Adrian Maguire in Sunday's race, for which he was sent off 5 to 4 favourite.
"I was not disheartened even ink the slightest," the trainer said yesterday. "I said before the race he would need the run and that's what happened. And Adrian said he couldn't handle the ground. "He is not too bad and has suffered no ill effects from the race."
Montelado is quoted at 8 to 1 for the Champion Hurdle by William Hill and Flynn added: "He was beaten at Leopardstown the year he won at Cheltenham and he will now go straight for the Champion Hurdle."
Danoli and Montelado form part of a 12 strong Irish contingent in the entries for the Champion Hurdle announced yesterday for the £175,000 added race.
Favourite with all major book makers is last yearn's winner Alderbrook, whose price was clipped from 3 to 1 in to 5 to 2 by Ladbrokes yesterday after heavy support.
The entry - up from 24 last year - includes good Flat winners Alriffa, Celestial Key and Celestial Choir who each have yet to race over hurdles. Among a strong representation of novices in the race David Nicholson and Paul Nicholls have entered the unbeaten Castle Sweep and See More Business respectively.
And the race is given an international flavour with the entry of Wacio from France and the German trained Telasco.
Wacio, successful over hurdles at Pau on his two most recent starts, has earned over £285,000 in a career which has also brought victory in Group races on the Flat in Turkey and Austria (the 1991 Austrian Derby). He is quoted at 33 to 1 for Cheltenham by William Hill.
. Sister Stephanie's comfortable success at Newton Abbot yesterday had jockey Graham McCourt looking forward to hiss new career in the training ranks. The mare, partnered by Richard Dunwoody, made just about every yard of the running for the Bet with the Tote Novices' Chase (Qualifier) coming home eight lengths clear of Court Melody.
