RACING: Like-a-Butterfly will have one more race this season, at Punchestown next month, and the unbeaten star will then be aimed at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle next year.
Trainer Christy Roche yesterday indicated the championship option over hurdles instead of a possible novice chase campaign is the preferred route.
"It's a natural progression for a novice. It's a step up but she won't have to improve a terrible lot to be right there," he said.
Like-A-Butterfly is as low as 10 to 1 favourite with some firms for next year's Champion Hurdle after her gruelling victory at Cheltenham last week.
"She has come out of that exceptionally well. She is in great form. She will run again at Punchestown in either the two-mile race (Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle) or the two and a half (Menolly Champion Novice Hurdle.)
"We will look and see which one she will run in. The two and a half is worth more money but it will all depend on the ground," Roche said.
The Curragh trainer also reported the Cheltenham runner -up, Bannow Bay, will be prepared for another clash with Limestone Lad in the Kevin McManus Champion Stayers Hurdle on the third day of Punchestown.
"Baracouda won't be there but it should be a great clash between the two Irish horses. Our horse was just touched off at Cheltenham but he ran a super race," Roche said.
Grimes, the forgotten star during the winter, could have a very busy spring, with the Martell Aintree Hurdle and the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown being targeted for the Roche runner.
"It all depends on the ground with Grimes but we have two other possibles for Liverpool, Shannon Gale and Yeoman's Point," the trainer said.
Another Irish star being aimed at the Grand National meeting at Liverpool is Native Upmanship, who has emerged in good shape from his second to Flagship Uberalles in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Arthur Moore had nominated the valuable Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan next month as a possible option for Native Upmanship but that has been ruled out.
"It would be a long journey after a hard race so we won't be going. He has come out of Cheltenham well and will go for the two and a half mile at Liverpool.
"Fadoudal Du Cochet could go to Liverpool too, for the Red Run Chase, or he might run at Fairyhouse instead," Moore said.
The flat season begins this Sunday and the Curragh racecourse have announced a package for the season of 18 race days with a prizemoney total of over €10 million, a 12.2 per cent increase on last year.
The programme will include 40 Group or Listed races, with nine Group One pots. The Wedegewood Phoenix Stakes is included in that nine having been transferred from Leopardstown.
Before that, however, there will a less cerebral event at the village green in Tallaght today.
At a Cheltenham preview night two weeks ago, the Paddy Power spokesman Paul Ryan dismissed Baracouda's festival chances with the statement: "If Baracouda wins the Stayers' Hurdle, I will parade naked through the streets of Tallaght!"
Ryan has decided to live up to his pledge and the show is scheduled to begin at 11.00 this morning.
Baracouda has not been invited!
Tomorrow's meeting at Clonmel will not feature any races over fences as the chase track was found to be unraceable at an inspection yesterday. The three abandoned chases will be replaced by dividing other races to maintain a seven-race card.
Meshasheer was backed again yesterday for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas and is now 6 to 1 second favourite (from 10-1) for the Newmarket Classic with Coral. He was a 33 to 1 chance four weeks ago but has been all the rage since then.
