COURSE manager Tom Burke heeded the request of Jessica Harrington to re-position the Brannockstown Handicap Hurdle as the first hurdle race on the programme at Leopardstown tomorrow and has been, rewarded with a contest that is 12lbs superior in quality to this year's Ladbroke Hurdle and a field ready to run for a purse that at £6,000 is only 10 per cent of that which was on offer here in January.
Mrs Harrington was anxious that her top weight, Space Trucker, would get an opportunity of performing on the best ground that could be made available given that he had no hopes of getting the good going that he needs to show his true ability. As a live candidate though for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham - now only 10 days away - he would still be expected to put up a bold showing.
He has won three of his last four starts and beat some quality English hurdlers in Castle Sweep and Dato Star in the Newcastle Building Society Fighting Fifth Hurdle exactly three months ago.
Other Cheltenham probables on show in this race include Humble who ran away from Digin For Gold on his second jump start for Dermot Weld and Miltonfield, who if successful, will escape a penalty for the Coral Cup, for which he is one of the favourites.
The bet in the race on the score of fitness from the Flat may be Sentosa Star. He won the Christoffel Bau-Trophy at St Morizt at the beginning of February and two weeks later earned a larger stake when third in the Grosser Preis to Diamond Pro.
Both those races were run on the ice. I wonder would Tom Burke be able to facilitate Michael Hourigan by suplicating these conditions on which his horse ran way above his grass form in this country.
The Sunday banker is Folly Road in the Stepaside Novices Chase. He showed his stamina with an eight-length win from Irish Peace in a three mile chase at Punchestown in January and then ran quite well to finish sixth to Ultra Flutter at Naas.
Fine De Claire came partially to the bookmakers rescue at Punchestown when hanging on grimly to dead-heat with Promalee. This was one of the more controversial photo finishes and at different stages each horse was odds on to get the verdict.
Unfortunately she gets a full [penalty for half a win in the Fmount Flat Race but it does stand to her credit that she was not only taking on older horses at Punchestown, but previous winners as well.
The Kilternan Handicap Chase looks a match between Hide and Belvederian.
Hide ran up to his best mark at Christmas when beaten a length by Belvederian's stablemate, New Co, in the Paddy Power Chase but with his prime target the National, Belvederian could be more forward in condition. He ran a good fourth here to Manhattan Castle over two miles three furlongs.
With Cheltenham just days away, punters have a great opportunity to get expert advice from some of racing's leading experts. Trainers Ted Walsh, Jim Bolger, Tom Foley and Frank Berry will be at the Celtic Arms in Ferns next Saturday to preview Cheltenham and provide guidelines to likely winners. A few pointers to the upcoming Flat season will also be given.
The evening will include video footage of the fancied Irish runners and their rivals, together with up-to-date form lines. Ample opportunity will also be provided to question the trainers and to put forward points of view from the floor.
Tickets are available from John, Bolger and Sons and from Dunbars Corner House in Ferns. Further information can be obtained by contacting Declan MacPartlin on 054-83146 or 83239.
