Racing News round-up: There may be some uncertainty here about the strength in depth of our Cheltenham challenge but there seems to be no such doubts across the Irish Sea.
When betting on the number of Irish-trained winners at the 2004 festival opened a month ago, Cashmans reckoned that just a pair of victories was favourite at 7 to 2.
They have, however, been taken aback by the money that has been bet on there being another bumper meeting for the Irish to compare to last year's six winners.
"Five and upwards have been the most popular from the very first day. We were favouring less than that but there has been no business for four or under.
"The thing is that most of the money has come from England. They seem very confident that we're going to do well. Maybe that's a reflection of their horses," said Cashmans's spokesman, Joseph Burke yesterday.
That confidence is so prevalent that the original 100 to 1 about a colossal nine or more winners has been halved, as has eight which is now only 25 to 1.
The three and four winner totals are joint favourites at 4 to 1 but it is now just 15 to 2 that the Irish will equal last year's tally.
If there is to be widespread success it will have to happen without the top novice Nil Desperandum. Yesterday trainer Frances Crowley gave up the struggle to have the unbeaten chaser ready for the SunAlliance.
Nil Desperandum, so impressive in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse in November, suffered an over-reach when schooling at home last month and Crowley admitted: "He is progressing slowly but he won't make the festival.
She added: "It is taking time and I don't know if he will run again this season. We won't be making any decision until we know how he is."
One horse that is being targeted at the festival is the SunAlliance winner Hardy Eustace who will have his final warm up in Saturday's Red Mills Trial at Gowran.
Trainer Dessie Hughes, who plans to run the horse in the Champion Hurdle rather than the Stayers, said: "He went about a mile and a half on grass this morning and worked well."
Conor O'Dwyer will continue his partnership with Hardy Eustace and the rider can get today's Punchestown fixture off to a winning start on the likely favourite for the maiden hurdle, Poachin Again.
Mr Houdini, a Stakes winner on the flat, is an interesting runner for Jessica Harrington, in the second maiden hurdle but significantly Barry Geraghty is on the John Kiely trained Reine Des Reines.
This mare went down by only half a length to the highly regarded Hourigan horse The Parishioner at Cork and looks worth following.
There are a number in the Beginners Chase that look to hold legitimate chances including Jack High who boasts course form and the 111 rated Mullacash.
Preference, however, is for the recent Navan winner Liscannor Lad1.55- Poachin Again .
