Sunday Previews:Champion jockey Ruby Walsh is scheduled to be re-united with Nickname in tomorrow's Fairyhouse feature and the absence of the champion chaser Newmill looks to have left the door open for the ex-French star.
A forecast of heavy going for the Grade Two Ladbrokes Normans Grove Chase was enough for Newmill's trainer John Murphy to pull the plug on a possible Cheltenham warm-up this weekend.
"The atrocious weather means it will be heavy so there's no point running the horse," Murphy said yesterday. "It wouldn't bother me if he doesn't run again before Cheltenham. It's not vital."
In contrast the prevailing conditions will have had Nickname's trainer Martin Brassil rubbing his hands as it can hardly be too soft for his star chaser who sluiced up in the Grade One Dial-A-Bet at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Walsh, who rode him in the Durkan last month, is back on board this time and with Justified on the comeback from a poor effort last time, and Central House well held on Leopardstown form, Nickname should be hard to beat.
Walsh is just four short of his century of winners in Ireland this season and might even be able to make the magic mark tomorrow, beginning with Black Harry in the 3m novice hurdle. This looks quite a hot event with Offaly as well as Wickford who Walsh rode to win at Thurles last time. But Black Harry's Naas success indicated a horse very much on the upgrade.
Rare Ouzel was quietly backed in his last start here only to fail to land a blow. Tony Martin's horse goes in the handicap chase which he won easily last year off a 5lb lower mark and Walsh could make the difference in Rare Ouzel's double attempt.
A banker for Walsh fans looks like being the Beginners Chase contender Alexander Taipan despite that one only making it to the ninth fence in his last run at Punchestown.
Tony McCoy is a hugely significant booking for a pair of JP McManus-owned runners at Cork and the British champion jockey could be in line for a memorable victory on the Shane Broderick-trained Cochise in the maiden hurdle.
McCoy's mount in the three-mile handicap hurdle, Dante Hall, also has claims on the back of a good run at Limerick.
