Shanahan's Turn© Photo Healy Racing
Jonathan Burke is keeping his fingers crossed Galway Plate hero Shanahan's Turn can get his season back on track in today's Powers Irish Whiskey Chase at Down Royal.
Henry de Bromhead's seven-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Ballybrit feature in late July, but finished tailed off when a hot favourite for the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park, a race won four times by former stable companion Sizing Europe.
Burke was unable to offer any excuse for that listless display, but is pleased with how Shanahan's Turn has been going at home ahead of this Grade Two assignment.
"He seems in good form and we're looking forward to running him," said the jockey.
"Nothing showed up after Gowran. For whatever reason he didn't show up on the day and was very disappointing. We're just putting a line through it.
"He seems well and this is the ideal race for him.
"He's facing some strong opposition with Clarcam and Ptit Zig in there but if he came back to his Galway form, he'd have a big shout."
Paul Nicholls saddled six consecutive winners of this race before Gordon Elliott's Don Cossack turned over Wonderful Charm 12 months ago.
This year, the champion trainer saddles Ptit Zig, who won his first four starts over fences last season before falling at Ascot and proving no match for Vautour at Cheltenham.
Part-owner Barry Fulton said: " It's nice to have him back and I believe he's in reasonable form.
"Paul's horses tend to need the run, even if they win, but it looks a good place to start and we'll see how we get on.
"Paul has a very good record in this race, so we have a hard act to follow.
"He looks great and had a good run last season.
"Unfortunately he was run into the ground by one of the (Willie) Mullins machines (Vautour) at Cheltenham, but we live to fight another day."
Elliott is double-handed, with dual Grade One winner Clarcam expected to improve from his comeback third at Gowran Park. The Cullentra maestro also saddles recent Cork scorer Shadow Catcher
Clarcam's rider Bryan Cooper said: "He's a former Grade One winner. The two and a half miles will suit him well and he'll improve for his first run. The ground will be right up his street."
