Fairyhouse news and Thurles preview:Blueberry Boy, one of the leading fancies for Sunday's Ballymore Properties Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse, is rated only 50-50 to make the race but his trainer Paul Stafford still remains hopeful that he can successfully tackle some of the most powerful stables in the country for the Grade One prize.
A mistake at the third-last fence when winning at Punchestown earlier this month caused some bruising to one of Blueberry Boy's front legs and the problem is still causing Stafford some unwanted headaches in the build-up to what could be the most important day of his career.
The 38-year-old Swords native trains just six horses from his base in Oldtown in north Dublin and victory for Blueberry Boy against horses from the likes of the Edward O'Grady and Noel Meade stables on Sunday would be a significant career boost for a trainer whose route to Fairyhouse has been more exotic than most.
Stafford returned to Ireland three years ago from Japan where he worked at a pre-training farm breaking in yearlings and preparing horses for their racing careers. That came on the back of nine years working at Jim Dreaper's famous Kilsallaghan stables but Stafford returned from the Far East, with his Japanese wife, determined to train on his own.
The seven-year-old Blueberry Boy made a spectacular first start of the season when beating some of the best novices around in the Grade Two Craddockstown Chase at Punchestown and Stafford is confident of another big run - if he can get the horse ready in time.
"There is a bit of bruising on a front joint from that mistake he made at Punchestown. He is 100 per cent sound but he just took a little hair off the joint and I don't want it to lead to anything. I have to be cautious because he is so good and we will leave it until declaration time on Friday before making our minds up.
"At the moment I would say he is 50-50. He has done a few canters and I wouldn't be worried about him missing work because he is not a stuffy horse. It is just a bit of a concern right now," he said. "On his performance at Punchestown, he would be right up there with them. He certainly deserves to be there and I think he has a great chance," Stafford reported.
Sunday's feature, the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, has seen substantial support for the favourite Asian Maze who is now odds-on to get the better of the champion hurdler, Brave Inca. The Tom Mullins-trained mare is as low as 4 to 5 with Cashmans who have lengthened Brave Inca to 7 to 4.
The Willie Mullins-Ruby Walsh team looks the one to follow at Thurles today where Ballytrim can make substantial improvement from his first fencing start in the opening Beginners Chase. That was over two and three quarter miles when the Archie O'Leary-owned horse looked to need all the distance to get his jumping into gear behind Letterman. However, he was running on well at the end and there should be much more to come from the course bumper winner.
Our Ben's 2005-06 season was something of a let-down but the horse can get this term off to a good start in the Glen Chase where the three miles and the testing ground conditions should be ideal.
Mullins gives the Grand National winner Hedgehunter a first start of the season in the conditions hurdle where Walsh will be on board Mossy Green. The ex-Charles Byrnes-trained Powerstation is another interesting runner but an each-way option could be Pacolet.
Drinmore Chase (Paddy Power):4 Blueberry Boy, 6 Vic Venturi & O'Muircheartaigh, 7 Conna Castle, Mossbank & Mac Three, 8 King Johns Castle, 10 Schindlers Hunt & Gazza's Girl, 12 Bar. (Cashmans bet): 4 O'Muircheartaigh, Blueberry Boy & King Johns Castle, 6 Mac Three, Mossbank & Vic Venturi, 10 Bar.
