JP McManus didn't seem too disappointed that his favourite in the first race yesterday was beaten by a Christy Roche trained horse, instead congratulating Roche with a heartfelt: "Keep it up!" It's not outlandish to suggest the owner had Shannon Gale at least partly in mind at the time.
Shannon Gale is the McManus owned and Roche trained fancy for today's ultra-lucrative £125,000 paddypower.com handicap chase. He looks certain to be many other people's fancy also.
The McManus colours have a victorious history in this race courtesy of Time For A Run; Norman Williamson travels to Dublin to include the horse in an enviable book of rides, and Shannon Gale has already had experience of landing the odds when fancied at this festival.
It's two years since the eight-year-old returned from an injury plagued absence to land quite a gamble in a handicap hurdle, a race that appeared to prove his ability to act on a testing surface.
Throw in Roche's assertion yesterday that Shannon Gale is "well handicapped" and the McManus horse could easily be the centre of a McManus tilt at the ring.
Despite all the positives, there are negatives such as the obvious one of 22 opponents guaranteed to be trying for their lives. There is also the horse's comparative inexperience against such a field.
Having said that, however, Shannon Gale did nothing wrong when winning well at Navan from Brush The Flag and off just 10-8 could represent a touch of quality in the race.
Shannon Gale's ante-post market rival has been Davids Lad who sluiced up at Cheltenham last month and comes here on a three timer. Last year's winner Inis Cara can't be ruled out either while the handicap king Arthur Moore is four handed although Lyreen Wonder did take a heavy fall at Cheltenham last time. Shannon Gale, however, is the selection to provide a big pay day for all concerned and Williamson could enjoy a very fine day as he takes the mount for the first time on Nick Dundee's half brother, the ultra-promising Ned Kelly.
Unbeaten in two starts over flights, Ned Kelly has to face Bust Out, who is 3lbs better off for a Naas defeat earlier in the season, in the future champions novice hurdle. Jessica Harrington's charge is clearly on the improve as a Fairyhouse win last time indicates, but Ned Kelly is bred to thrive on this very soft surface and his potential is untapped.
The Grand National hero Papillon returns to action in the four runner Dial A Bet Chase and although the ground will hardly be ideal the Aintree winner cannot be ruled out. Preference is for To Your Honour who was an unimpressive odds on scorer from Space Trucker at Punchestown last time.
To Your Honour is generally regarded as being a much more effective operator going left handed however and this track, plus the ground, look ideal.
The Navan winner Benovia was a disappointing favourite at Fairyhouse subsequently but Francies Fancy ran well enough yesterday to suggest the Crowley horse holds his chance in the opener while Natalie Know's beat a decent horse in Biscayne Bay at Fairyhouse and can follow up in the maiden hurdle.
The scheduled Clonmel card is dependant on passing a 7.30 inspection but if it does get the go-ahead, it could be worth a few prayers that the chases survive as Eddie Hales's Masseuse could be worth a look in the mares beginners chase.
This one was just a neck off Rose Of Inchquin at Thurles recently and is due a winning turn after a number of placed efforts.
