Klairon Davis indicated he will be a formidable Champion Chase contender again when winning at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Giving a stone and a length beating to Merry Gale in the Normans Grove Handicap Chase was encouraging but the definite impression was that the best is yet to come.
"There is definitely better to come. With Mr Moore only one day counts and I'm sure the horse will be right for Cheltenham," said Richard Dunwoody.
It is hard to disagree with Dunwoody. The 1995 Arkle Trophy and the 1996 Champion Chase proved that Klairon Davis comes to a peak when it counts and with more decent ground than prevailed at the festival last year, Arthur Moore's nine-year-old seems sure to be a major player again.
In that light, Saturday's victory was significant. Merry Gale again adopted the front running tactics that beat Klairon Davis on New Year's Day but this time, the other 11 to 10 joint favourite couldn't be shaken off.
Not that a Klairon Davis victory always looked inevitable. At the second last, Dunwoody had to sit tight as Klairon Davis hit the fence. Merry Gale wasn't stopping and on their outside, the outsider Fiftysevenchannels appeared to be travelling best of all.
Once over the last though, the complexion of the race changed completely. Dunwoody delivered a number of backhanders and Klairon Davis powered up the run-in with an enthusiasm that will only warm the cockles of his Cheltenham supporters hearts.
Dunwoody commented: "The important thing is that he has won. The ground was even worse than the last day and he was never happy on it. He really felt it when I let him down after the second last. I had planned to sit three or four lengths off Merry Gale but he wasn't as keen or fast at his fences this time and I found myself closer than expected."
Klairon Davis is unlikely to run again before his March 18th festival date but Jim Dreaper, now that Danoli and The Grey Monk are out of the Hennessy, could send Merry Gale for another tilt at Leopardstown's Sunday showpiece. Alternative engagements include Ascot's Comet Chase or the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.
Paddy Mullins' string are in good form at the moment and the Goresbridge trainer had a first and last race double courtesy of Taoibhin and Royal Snoopy.
Musical Mayhem was the name on everyone's lips before the opening maiden but Taoibhin was going much the better on the run to the last and eventually ran out a three and a half length winner. Cheltenham's County Hurdle is now a possibility for Taoibhin.
Fairyhouse's Land Rover Bumper at Easter is a likely target for Royal Snoopy after the newcomer beat Point Hire in the Clonee Flat Race under Robbie Walsh.
Oonagh's Star was an expensive 4 to 6 failure in the INH Novice Hurdle as Dromhale Lady sprang a 12 to 1 surprise. Michael Hourigan's mare was an entirely convincing 11 length winner however. Charlie and Donald Swan were compensated for Oonagh's Star failure though when Like A Lion benefited from a drop back in trip to overcome the topweight Royal Marine in the Newcastle and Uttoxeter Handicap Hurdle.
Belmont King could bid to redeem his reputation in the Singer & Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter on Saturday.
Last season's Scottish Grand National winner would be having his first outing since he was pulled up in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow in December.
