Horse Racing: Back In Front takes his first step towards the Champion Hurdle at Tipperary tomorrow when the 2003-2004 jumping season really starts to crank into top gear.
The John James McManus Hurdle is a sure sign of the approaching winter and Back In Front is the first of the major winter stars to reappear.
Currently an 8 to 1 second favourite in the ante-post lists for Cheltenham, the ten-length Supreme Novices Hurdle winner faces a formidable cross-channel-trained rival in Intersky Falcon, who landed the €100,000 pot last year.
Jonjo O'Neill's runner was a disappointing fifth in last March's championship behind Rooster Booster but the fact that such a run was regarded as failure shows the calibre of opponent Back In Front faces.
The star novice followed up his festival triumph last season with two runs at Punchestown, the second of which resulted in a surprise defeat by the O'Neill-trained Quazar. However, the chance of revenge on the Gloucestershire trainer has come around and Back In Front looks up to taking it.
The Edward O'Grady yard can also strike in the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, where Kickham carries the sponsors colours in the Grade Three test.
Colca Canyon unshipped Barry Geraghty at the last at Listowel but that he looked to have the race won at the time shows that soft going may not be the hindrance once feared. Nevertheless, the horse does like a decent surface and if he gets it in the Grade Three novice chase then he will make them all go.
Geraghty should also go close in the handicap hurdle on Bridge Hotel, who found the three miles just too far at Listowel last time when gambled on.
The major flat contest is the Group Three Concorde Stakes, where the 114-rated d'Anjou stands out on ratings.
The bare mark may be misleading, though, and on a fastish surface the progressive Latino Magic could be up to providing Robbie Osborne with a first Group success.
This horse overhauled the subsequent Stakes winner Hymn Of Love at Tralee in August and the trip and track should be ideal tomorrow. If the ground is also, then Latino Magic will be a threat to them all.
Today's Punchestown fixture is all jumps and includes the continuing Irish-Australian jockeys challenge in the three-mile handicap hurdle. Paul Carberry was touched off on Mill Bank at Thurles on Sunday but can go one better here on Chain.
The enigmatic Statim finally got off the mark for amateur rider Denis Cullen at Listowel but despite that successful gamble, she remains a runner to be wary of.
Slaney Fox has 5 lbs to find on the ratings for the mares novice hurdle but looks a more reliable option.
