Munster Express Online

Kauto Star is bound to guarantee an excellent attendance at Haydock this Saturday as the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is scheduled to line up in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at the popular Merseyside course.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star posted a stellar performance on his return to action when beating Light On The Broom by an unchallenged 11 lengths in the Grade 1 www.JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 1st with Knight Legend a similar margin adrift in third spot. Kauto Star has of course won this same event at Haydock for the past two years and he’s taken to continue in a victorious capacity and in all probability, the French-bred should have most to fear from old adversary Exotic Dancer.

Binocular is the clear class act in the afternoon’s main supporting event, the £50,000 Betfair Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s Binocular of course brought himself to the attentions of a much wider audience last term by winning the Grade 1 John Smith’s 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and it’s worth recalling that he beat the Triumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo by an unchallenged seven lengths in that same contest. Binocular is the current ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March and he should make a winning return here at the expense of Celestial Halo.

Malcolm Jefferson’s According To Pete could complete a quick hat-trick by beating Bluegun in the Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle whilst Tom Sayers and O’Maley are a likely pair in the Timeform Betfair Racing Club Handicap Chase.

Ascot

At Ascot, all eyes will be on the Grade 2 Coral Ascot Hurdle over an extended two miles and three furlongs. Crack Away Jack brought himself to the attentions of a wider audience by winning the Fred winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham festival. Crack Away Jack has already won this autumn and Emma Lavelle’s star charge should possess too many aces here for Elusive Dream.

Mahogany Blaze should continue trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies’ excellent run by disposing of Oslot in the Amlin 1965 Chase whilst Jack The Giant should have most to fear from Lord Henry in the Carey Group Handicap Chase.

Gowran Park

Closer to home, there’s a meeting at Gowran Park on Saturday whilst Navan will be the venue for racing enthusiasts on Sunday.

At Gowran Park, Footy Facts should continue trainer Robert Tyner’s excellent season by landing the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Chase.

Footy Facts, a former more than useful hurdler, created a hugely favourable impression by winning a two mile six furlongs beginners chase at Thurles on November 8th, having previously come second in a Grade 3 chase at Tipperary. The drop back in trip of two furlongs shouldn’t inconvenience Footy Facts and the Oscar-sired gelding is likely to get the better of Drumconvis.

Island Life should continue his upward trajectory in the Irish Racing Yearbook Handicap Chase. The Noel Meade-trained five-year-old came home as he pleased from two vastly more experienced opponents in Lisbonney Project and Battle Axe on his most recent foray in a two and a quarter mile opportunity handicap chase at Thurles earlier this month. Island Life was raised a whopping 14 lbs for that display to a new mark of 103. Whilst this event reflects a genuine step up in class, Island Life is still likely to claim the scalp of Kashnito d’Hommee.

Theicecreamfellow could attain due reward for his consistency in the Gowran Park Racing Club Handicap Hurdle. Theicecreamfellow has actually been placed on all four of his most recent starts and last time, the seven-year-old finished a respectable third behind El Jo in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Clonmel in late October. That was still a more than reasonable effort and Leslie Young’s representative should have most to fear from Accorry More.

Gordon Elliot’s Tharawaat should avenge his second-placed effort behind The Fist Of God at Down Royal on October 31st by beating Patriot Jack in the Green Free Vouchers 3yo Maiden Hurdle whilst Fairwood Bob is taken to shrug aside the attentions of Roches Point in the Duninga Gallops (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Navan

At Navan, Patsy Hall looks likely to return to the coveted number one slot in the featured williamhill.ie Troytown Handicap Chase. The Tony Martin-trained Patsy Hall made a hugely encouraging return to the fray when finishing fourth in a two mile three furlong handicap chase behind Oscar India at Naas on November 8th. That run will surely have put Patsy Hall spot-on for this assignment and the son of Saddlers’ Hall is likely to dispense with Paul Nicholls’ British challenger Officer de Reserve.

Noel Meade’s Pandorama can maintain his unbeaten record on the track in the Grade 2 “Monksfield” Novice Hurdle. Pandorama started by winning a Dungarvan maiden point-to-point for Tramore-born vet John Halley back in January and he was then purchased by Noel Meade on behalf of owner Robert Bagnall. Pandorama has since won two bumpers plus a maiden hurdle over this same course and two and a half mile distance on November 9th. In short, Pandorama seems a very special horse and the son of Supreme Leader is put forward to dismiss Alpha Ridge in this coveted event.

Conor O’Dwyer’s Dontellmother looks likely to excel from Got The Urge in the williamhillcasino.com Handicap Hurdle and Gaelic Grounds has Florida Pal to contend with in the closing Cusack Homes (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.