RACING: Everything looks set for the prolific Native Upmanship to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Grade Two Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles today.
The track has to pass a 7 o'clock inspection this morning but manager Pierce Molony has reported: "While there is frost forecast, they are also predicting a rise in temperature to about seven degrees by lunchtime. I think we will be racing alright."
That will be a relief to Arthur Moore who has prepared Native Upmanship to win the MacLochlainn sponsored feature in both 2002 and 2003.
Both the forecast "yielding" going and the two-and-a-half mile trip are ideal for Native Upmanship who has won ten of his 14 career victories at the distance.
Considering that seven of the ten have been in Grade One company there is no doubting the horse's class and Moore doesn't doubt he is ready for this despite having missed out on Christmas due to lameness.
"That was nothing, literally a five-minute thing that had no impact on his training . He's in good form and he should be quite ready for the race," he said.
Native Upmanship disappointed in his only start so far this season when he came only fifth in last month's Durkan but his 167 rating puts him over a stone clear of his nearest rivals at the weights today and the treble looks on.
The biggest day of the year at Thurles also includes the Grade Three Durkan Mares Novice Chase where Ruby Walsh is reunited with Stashedaway despite Davy Russell's appointment during the week as number one jockey to Michael O'Brien.
Walsh has a good record on Stashedaway who ran the high class Emotional Moment to a couple of lengths at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
The novice hurdle is a trappy contest with a number of high class jumping prospects pitched in against each other.
Michael Hourigan has a high regard for the The Parishioner who only just justified the odds on at Cork last time but who should relish the hike in trip. Well Presented is another potential smart chaser while Kim Fontaine is an interesting contender at this distance.
Bluebell Line, runner-up to the smart Vic Ville at Cork, gets over a stone in the opener from Cane Brake who looked to need all the two and a half miles in winning at Fairyhouse.
