Leopardstown tomorrow is the last chance saloon to establish Cheltenham credentials, and Slaney Native for one should be up to doing just that.
Jessica Harrington's horse is a general 14 to 1 shot for the Arkle Trophy despite not having run since Christmas and realistically has to win the Stepaside Novice Chase to retain that lofty position.
He hasn't run since Christmas when beaten a length and a half by Native Upmanship in the Dennys, and although a bare reading of that suggests he didn't have the pace to cope with the SunAlliance ante-post favourite, that may be misleading.
Despite having been an easy Punchestown winner before that, Slaney Native looked to be in front plenty soon enough in that sort of company in the Dennys and could be a type best waited with.
He looks to have decent warm up material against him now in Montana Glen and the Gowran winner, Verrazano Bridge, but if the Arkle is a realistic proposition, Slaney Native should beat them.
The performance of Ned Kelly and his rider Tom Magnier will be of interest in the Firmount Flat Race. The combination are a 12 to 1 shot with Cashmans for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the festival and are up against another Cheltenham possible, Kolleya, tomorrow.
The latter is a first racecourse ride for Stephen John Craine, the 17-year-old son of the classicwinning rider Stephen Craine and this former Alec Stewarttrained horse justified considerable confidence at Thurles on his debut when beating Chunkey and Thursday's easy Ludlow winner, Birth Rite.
Ned Kelly also won his debut in early January, beating the disappointing Punters Friend, with Jaybeedee, who reopposes here, third. Both Ned Kelly and Kolleya have to concede 7lb, and while he would prefer better ground, preference is for Kolleya.
Arthur Moore has to do without the services of Conor O'Dwyer this weekend, but the Naas trainer's recent hot streak looks set to continue with another double.
The Grand National winner, Bobbyjo, misses the Mick Holly Handicap Chase because of the ground and will instead school after racing before being aimed at a handicap hurdle at Gowran in two weeks' time.
His non-appearance, however, allows Moore's Star Service to make it into the race bang on the 10st minimum, although even that may be less important than the actual direction in which Star Service will be racing. At Punchestown last time, Star Service, despite 12st on his back, looked set to score, only for his steering to give out on the turn in. O'Dwyer practically had to manhandle the horse to turn right, and just as it looked as if he'd done enough, the jockey's saddle slipped on the run-in to allow Streamstown score. On that evidence, Star Service should be much happier racing left-handed, he's got a comparative featherweight and the form of his Naas win from Sawa-Id and Rathbawn Prince now looks very good.
Moore engages Barry Cash for Glenelly Gale in the Brannockstown Handicap Hurdle, and although this one was beaten by Gentle Mossy at Naas last time, the drop back to the minimum trip should be of help; while Oldtown Court's third to The Glow Worm looks good enough to take the opener.
The fixture scheduled for Tipperary on March 30th has been transferred to Thurles on the same day. Drainage work currently in progress at Tipperary will not be finished in time. The originally scheduled five and nine furlong races will now form part of an eight-race card at Cork on April 2nd.
