After countless headlines about dope, stopping horses and police arrests, the somewhat bemused racing circus recommences in Ireland today with the £30,000 Burger King Thyestes the centrepiece of an eight-race Gowran card.
So intertwined are the links between British and Irish racing that the last 48 hours will have made their mark on the consciousness of the general public here, too. In today's big race, however, Tell The Nipper looks a good bet to accentuate the positive side of the game.
Michael Hourigan's young stayer looks to have a lot going for him. With the top-weight Antonin running, Tell The Nipper gets in here with a handy looking 10st 2lb.
Tell The Nipper has been in fine form this season. He won over two and a half miles at Listowel in the autumn, but stamina has always looked to be his strong point. Nothing pointed more to that than how strongly Tell The Nipper was staying on at the end of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Under the promising Paul Hourigan, he went down by only a head and a neck to Time For A Run, after being only fifth on the run to the last.
Tell The Nipper, who will now be ridden by Richard Dunwoody, has the beating of Heist, Una's Choice, Ultra Flutter and New Co on Paddy Power form, but New Co, who finished seventh, may finish closer today on the forecasted yielding ground and looks one of the more potent dangers.
Others include St Mellion Fairway, now trained by Paul Webber, who hasn't run since finishing a decent fifth in the Irish Grand National last March when trained by David Nicholson. It could pay to also check out Dun Belle, who signalled a return to form with a third to Manhattan Castle at Naas three weeks ago.
Nevertheless, it's difficult to get away from Tell The Nipper and he can provide the Hourigan-Dunwoody team with a big race winner ahead of Dorans Pride's tilt at the Hennessy Gold Cup.
The other race over fences is the ILAC Centre Handicap Chase, where Dunwoody rides Bob Treacy and Charlie Swan is on the Hourigan-trained Don't Waste It. The latter won well at Down Royal eight days ago, but it may be worth taking a chance with Gentle Mossy. Gentle Mossy was an easy winner of a Beginners Chase at Limerick over Christmas and would have won anyway if Honey Trader had not exited at the last. He then went to Leopardstown, and although ultimately finishing a well-beaten fourth to Glebe Lad, it was noticeable how well Gentle Mossy was travelling behind the leaders on the turn in.
Swan should be on the mark in the opening maiden hurdle. The champion rides The Bongo Man for Tony Mullins in this.
