FOLLOWING a heavy overnight frost, the Leopardstown course was found to be rock hard resulting in the cancellation of yesterday's meeting after a 10.45 a.m. inspection. However, the fixture has been reschedule for today (subject to a precautionary inspection at 7.30 a.m.), which is good news for the Leopardstown track which has enjoyed a very successful Festival meeting.
Trainer Michael Hourigan insisted yesterday that his exciting novice Dorans Pride is by no means guaranteed to tackle the Gold Cup.
Opinions were divided over the merits of the gelding's facile Leopardstown victory in Saturday's William Neville & Sons Novice Chase but Ladbrokes are as short as 12 to 1 after cutting him four points. William Hill leaving the price unchanged at 16s while Coral also go 16 to 1 (from 20s).
Dorans Pride's performances have been characterised by sound jumping and his owner Tom Doran is reported to have backed the seven-year-old already for the Gold Cup.
But Hourigan stressed that no decision about Dorans Pride's main targets would be taken for some time. "It mustn't be forgotten that he's still a novice. A lot of people are dreaming and we will see how things go over the next two months before thinking about the Gold Cup," he said.
Hourigan does not have the option of switching Dorans Pride to the Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham as the owner does not fancy the race. In the run-up to the Festival, Dorans Pride will try to sweep up more low-key races as he gains more experience over fences.
"Things couldn't have gone better so far. I am absolutely delighted with him," added Hourigan. Dorans Pride's next stop may be an event at Fairyhouse next month while a race at Leopardstown on February 2nd has also been pencilled in.
Dorans Pride made the running and while jumping a bit big at a steady gallop was evidently keener when rider Shane Broderick stepped up the pace before the eighth fence and asked him to race from the third last.
This year's Gold Cup winner Imperial Call remains favourite at 7 to 2 with the dual King George VI Chase winner One Man at 6 to 1.
Trainer Fergie Sutherland is very pleased with Imperial Call's progress and plans to run him in a two mile and three furlong handicap chase over this course on AIG Irish Champion Hurdle day on January 19th followed by the Hennessy Gold Cup on February 2nd.
The valuable Ericsson Chase was won by Johnny Setaside who having finally got the measure of a mistake prone Opera Hat after a fast-run race sadly dropped dead on his way back to the enclosure. A good and consistent chaser Johnny Setaside was the winner of eight races and some £93,000 in prize money. John O'Meara's young chaser will be a big loss to the Noel Meade stable.
Although Noble Thyne held Ask The Butler by a short head in the O'Dwyers Stillorgan Orchard Novice Hurdle, trainer Paddy Mull ins was clearly less than satisfied with the way the race was run. "They made a sprint of it, and he's not a sprinter," he said shortly.
Conor O'Dwyer was sitting absolutely still on Ask The Butler as he and Noble Thyne jumped the last flight as one. But when O'Dwyer asked the question there was nothing left and Noble Thynekept plugging on. Tarthooth was lying in third place when falling five out.
But it was a tardily run race as Tom Treacy sat and sat with Noble Thyne once the pacesetting Buggy had dropped back beaten before the home turn.
