Today's Sadexo Clarence House Chase is the weekend Grade One feature and it gives Co Carlow trainer John "Shark" Hanlon an opportunity to score a first top-flight success when he saddles Hidden Cyclone at Ascot.
It is 16 years since the last Irish-trained winner (Jeffell) of the two-mile heat in its various guises and Hidden Cyclone is joined in the seven-strong field by Henry De Bromhead's Days Hotel, who will team up with top cross-channel-based jockey Richard Johnson.
Andrew McNamara is again on board Hidden Cyclone and the jockey has a proven Grade One pedigree in Britain having scored a famous double in 2006 with Newmill in the Champion Chase and Hi Cloy in the Melling Chase.
Hanlon, however, was narrowly denied a maiden Grade One success at Leopardstown over Christmas when Hidden Cyclone was beaten by Benefficient and a subsequent Turf Club appeal against the stewards decision to leave the result unaltered was unsuccessful.
With testing conditions likely, Hidden Cyclone was heavily supported during the week and Hanlon admitted yesterday: “The manager of the track has told me it’s soft to heavy and I think our lad will handle it. There’s been a few quid for him and I’m hoping the ground will suit him more than lot of the others.”
Sire De Grugy is the main home hope, along with the 2012 winner Somersby, third to Sprinter Sacre last year when the race was run at Cheltenham.
There will be a cross-channel challenger for tomorrow's Fairyhouse feature, as Tom George's Majala tops the weights for the €100,000 Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Chase.
Disappointing effort
The mount of Galway-born Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Paddy Brennan, Majala travels to Co Meath on the back of a disappointing effort at Wetherby last month but prior to that was runner-up to Sire De Grugy at Chepstow.
Willie Mullins's Turban is likely to be a popular fancy in his first handicap start while Bryan Cooper has chosen Savello from a triple-Gigginstown entry.
Davy Russell couldn't have got near the weight on Il Fenomeno but Shrapnel was a Gigginstown option and instead the champion jockey teams up with his old friend Lastoftheleaders for Tony Martin. The veteran runner showed at this time last year when beating Alderwood that two miles on soft ground is pretty much ideal for him and there was plenty to like about the enthusiasm he showed over hurdles at Christmas behind Rocky Wednesday.
Willie Mullins pitches two 131-rated mares into the Solerina Hurdle and Gitane Du Berlais could be the one more at home on the ground in a race where Theatre Bird has to concede weight all-round.
