Native Upmanship has a choice of weekend races at either Cheltenham or Punchestown and the puzzle of where he should go prompted trainer Arthur Moore to say yesterday: 'It`s 50-50 where he will run - but I`m not going to ask the audience!'
Native Upmanship is one of three Moore entries for Saturday`s £80,000 Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham but the horse, as low as 16/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has an alternative entry in Sunday`s John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.
'Hopefully there will be a decision soon but I just want to digest both races and bounce it all out. I also have Lyreen Wonder and More Than A Stroll in the Cheltenham race. But I`m very happy with Native Upmanship,' said Moore.
That happiness appears to be reflected in the Gold Cup antepost market with Paddy Power reporting interest in the horse for both the Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase over Christmas.
'We cut him to 16/1 from 20s for the Gold Cup but he has also been cutfrom 25/1 with several other firms,' a Paddy Power spokesman said.
Hill Society and Go Roger Go are other Irish trained entries for the Tripleprint which hasn`t been won by an Irish runner since Leap Frog won for Tom Dreaper in 1971. Native Upmanship has been made a 6/1 second favourite with Ladbrokes for the Tripleprint, behind the Martin Pipe trained Exit Swinger. There are just 13 left in the Durkan including Florida Pearl who is reportedly a doubtful runner. However among the home possibles are the Grand National heroes Papillion and Commanche Court while there are two cross-channel entries.
Venetia Williams has left in Bellator but Noel Chance is debating whether or not to run Flagship Uberalles who also had an alternative engagement in the rescheduled Tingle Creek Chase.
One horse who is unlikely to take his chance is the former Durkan Chase winner Dorans Pride who has been in productive form in recent weeks.
'He will be left in until Friday but I doubt if he will run. The only reason for that is that it would be a fifth weekend race on the trot for him,' said trainer Michael Hourigan. 'His next race is likely to be the Ericsson at Leopardstown.'
Meanwhile, Christy Roche confirmed yesterday Youlneverwalkalone will take his chance in a 'best of the rest' decider at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The weekend Fairyhouse scorer is one of 11 entries, along with the top English hopes Hors La Loi and Barton, for the Bula Hurdle which features most of the major Champion Hurdle contenders - apart from the odds on title holder Istabraq.
John Oxx yesterday picked up the British Horserace Writers Derby Award as the flat trainer of the year.
Oxx beat off Michael Stoute, John Gosden and Mark Johnston to win the award after the most momentous year of his career featured the double Derby and Arc de Triomphe winner Sinndar.
At the awards ceremony in London, Sinndar`s rider John Murtagh also won the George Ennor Trophy for outstanding achievement.
Closer to home, the former top novice chaser Nick Dundee is set to finally make his long awaited reappearance in the O`Connell Group Chase but he will set foot at Navan on Saturday rather than Cork.
The Cork track was declared waterlogged yesterday and the O`Connell Chase was transferred to Navan.
