News and Clonmel preview: Confirmation that Ruby Walsh will seek another double Grand National triumph on board Hedgehunter at Aintree on Saturday week has resulted in the Willie Mullins-trained horse being slashed in the ante-post betting for the big race.
Hedgehunter, who ran a huge race in the National last year until falling at the last, is now a 10 to 1 joint second favourite with Paddy Power from a previous best of 12 to 1. The 9 to 1 market leader remains Amberleigh House.
Walsh has a fine record over the big fences and won on his very first ride with Papillon in 2000. That same year he also scored in the Irish National on Commanche Court and last Monday he again picked up the Fairyhouse feature with Numbersixvalverde. He replaces David Casey whose fortunes didn't improve at all when he subsequently took a horrific fall at Fairyhouse on Tuesday from Emotional Article in the Menolly Handicap Hurdle.
The good news yesterday, however, was that Casey's injuries are not as bad as first feared and even though he could face up to two months on the sidelines he is out of danger.
Casey did not fracture his hip in the fall as first feared but it was dislocated and had to be put back in at Blanchardstown Hospital. The jockey also underwent a full body scan which revealed a small fracture to a vertebrae in his neck. Happily though there is no spinal problem.
"He is conscious and while his recovery will take a while he is in no danger," said the Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley yesterday. Casey rode Hedgehunter in the National and also to his greatest triumph in the 2004 Thyestes. However, Walsh has also been successful on the horse when he won his maiden hurdle at Clonmel over three years ago.
"Ruby is my stable jockey in Ireland and rides for Paul Nicholls in England. He was committed to Silver Birch until that horse was ruled out. It is no reflection on David Casey who is a top-class jockey and will continue to ride for me in the future. But Ruby is my number one," Willie Mullins said.
Punchestown officially launched the 2005 festival yesterday where a €400,000 increase in prizemoney will bring the total pot for next month's four-day extravaganza to €2.1 million.
There will be 10 Grade One races over the four days with each of them worth a minimum of 100,000. They include the opening day feature, the 180,000 Kerrygold Champion Chase, which is a target for Moscow Flyer after his intended next race at Aintree next week.
The Guinness Gold Cup will feature on Day Two where Kicking King could be taken on by the top English chaser Kingscliff and the Cheltenham winner Missed That is on schedule to try and double up in the Paddy Power Champion Bumper.
A re-run of that dramatic Champion Hurdle encounter between Hardy Eustace and Harchibald looks like taking place in the final day highlight, the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle. Cashmans have already started betting on it with both Irish- trained stars made 11 to 8 joint favourites.
Michael Kinane goes to Clonmel this afternoon in order to ride Deyrnia in the mile and a quarter fillies maiden and the trip should prove worthwhile.
The John Oxx-trained filly put in a most eye-catching debut at the Curragh when, despite starting an unconsidered 20 to 1 shot, she ran on very well to be third to the highly regarded Bobs Pride with her stable companion Shalapour in second.
The Oxx team looked like really kicking into gear over the weekend and that initial run should leave Deyrnia with an edge over the Dermot Weld hope Sweet Firebird whose only run as a juvenile yielded a fourth to Kitty O'Shea at Navan.
Steel Band's rating gives the novice a clear chance in the opening conditions chase but a run in the Arkle at Cheltenham might just have taken the edge off him. The Tramore winner John James could be an alternative.
