O'Neill given Barneys mount Gordon Elliott is hoping the gentle touch will spark a revival in the fortunes of Barneys Honour in the Foxrock Handicap Chase at Navan. Barneys Honour is a dual course winner but has failed to trouble the judge in three starts so far this term, prompting Elliott to give Lisa O'Neill a try on the 10-year-old. O'Neill, who has represented Ireland in the Fegentri amateur rider series, rides out at Elliott's Trim stables. "Lisa's a very capable rider. This horse just hasn't being putting it in but he's working very well at home," said the trainer. "Lisa knows him well at home and we said we'd try something different and put a lady rider up on him to see if she could get a tune out of him." Popcorn is back in action after more than two years off the track and connections of the 11-year-old are just looking for a decent display. "He's won a bumper, a maiden hurdle and a beginners chase," said trainer Willie Mullins' son, Patrick. "He's a fair horse but he doesn't have an awful lot of experience as he's only run twice over fences and he's second top-weight. "We'd just be hopeful that he'd run a good race and get some prize-money. We'd be delighted with that." Carrying top weight in the 11-runner field is the 2012 Irish Grand National scorer Lion Na Bearnai, who has only had three runs since his famous victory for trainer Tom Gibney.
