Danoli's latest return from injury in the Hennessy a fortnight ago was cloaked in understandable sentiment but it's a different story in today's Red Mills Trial at Gowran.
Having been bang in contention to three out at Leopardstown before losing Tommy Treacy, Danoli has re-established his claims to a possible return to the top flight over fences. This afternoon is about a test of those claims.
With Treacy suspended, Shay Barry rides Tom Foley's star for the first time in anger and despite the presence of the Thyestes-winner Micko's Dream and the top handicapper Bob Treacy, connections are in no doubt that a possible tilt at the Gold Cup is dependent on victory today.
Foley reports Danoli has taken the Hennessy effort well and is confident that soundness is no longer an issue with the horse. However despite worries about testing ground, he is expecting a big run.
"With the horses running against him at Gowran, my horse will have to take all the beating if we are to think about Cheltenham. I'm not worried about winning by a head or a half a length because I know he will improve again but it would be a nice to go to Cheltenham with a win behind us," Foley said yesterday.
"I'm not worried about him staying sound but my main worry is his jumping in that ground. Danoli usually gets away fast from his fences but when they land over the fences tomorrow they could go a good foot in and that will suit Micko's Dream and Bob Treacy more," he added.
The Grand National hope Micko's Dream returns to the course and distance of his greatest triumph after running second to Amberleigh House over an inadequate trip at Thurles but will do well to confirm the Thyestes form with Bob Treacy on 7 lb. worse terms.
Danoli's Leopardstown return was striking though and with Foley confident of improvement since, the veteran is taken to score his first victory since the 1997 Hennessy.
The three-times Champion Hurdle runner-up Theatreworld goes for a third success in the Trial Hurdle on the back of a disappointing last to stable-mate Istabraq in the AIG Hurdle.
His trainer Aidan O'Brien said yesterday: "He just got detached and disinterested at Leopardstown but is coming back to himself now. He's in about the same shape now as he was at this time last year."
Theatreworld ran third to Nomadic and Limestone Lad in this race 12 months ago and although Nomadic has had his problems this season, the stable now believe he is back to his old self. With Theatreworld coming off a bad run, an usually needing his racing to put him right, Nomadic is preferred. A bulging eight race card also features the hurdling debut of the Ulster Derby-winner General Cloney but he could find Dermot Weld's Ansar just too hot to handle.
Admittedly the selection, a Dundalk flat winner on the firm, would prefer better ground but he came to Leopardstown with a decent reputation and ran an acceptable fifth to Sungazer.
One-time Classic hope Easaar, with Richard Hills on board, made a winning return from a 10-month lay-off at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai on Thursday. It his first outing since he finished 10th in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last May.
