NEWS ROUND-UP:THE HOME racing at Gowran today depends on an 8am inspection, but Irish interest across-sea this weekend is primarily concentrated on Merseyside and its environs, notably with Jim Dreaper's Notre Pere taking on the mighty Kauto Star at Haydock this afternoon.
The dual-Gold Cup and triple-King George hero is rated miles clear of his eight opponents in the Grade One Betfair Chase, but soft ground is offering some hope to the Notre Pere camp.
“Heavy ground should be in our favour,” said 25-year-old jockey Andrew Lynch yesterday.
“Kauto Star is going to be tough to beat, but you should never be afraid of one horse. It would have been better if our horse had a proper race at Down Royal, but he seems in good form.”
Nevertheless, Kauto Star’s trainer, Paul Nicholls, was in confident mood yesterday.
“Obviously it will be soft ground, but I don’t think it will be too different to how it was when he won at Down Royal last year.”
The focus will switch to nearby Aintree tomorrow where Dessie Hughes is hoping Vic Venturi can follow in the footsteps of Black Apalachi last year and land the Becher Chase over the famous Grand National fences.
Paddy Flood’s mount has topweight, but faces a small field of seven opponents which include another Irish hope, John Daniel Moore’s Cleni, at the other end of the handicap.
The weather has already affected Gowran, with the steeplechase races cancelled on Thursday and a re-shuffled, six-race fixture needing to pass an inspection.
If it does get the green light, then Misala could be one to keep on the right side of in the first division of the maiden hurdle judged on a decent run at Fairyhouse last time.
Paul Carberrywill revive old memories when he teams up with trainer Nicky Richards to ride Monet's Garden in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot today.
Although this will be the first time the Irish jockey has got the leg up on the grey, he has ridden many winners for the Greystoke stable.
His first success over fences at the Cheltenham Festival came on Unguided Missile, trained by Richards’ late father Gordon, in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase 11 years ago.
“He goes back a long way with Greystoke,” said Richards. “He used to ride an awful lot of winners for father and I think we gave him his first Cheltenham winner over fences. He ain’t a bad jockey and it’s great to have him.”
