Gem Daly looks up to this task

Sunday Preview : Gem Daly may not have the profile his stable companion Aran Concerto had going into last year's Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle but that shouldn't prove any barrier to Noel Meade's horse landing the €100,000 Grade One Navan feature tomorrow.

Compared to Aran Concerto, who Meade had already described as being potentially the best he had ever trained prior to the two-and-a-half-mile event, Gem Daly almost sneaks in under the radar in terms of hype.

However, there was more than enough in a narrow defeat over the course and distance here last month, when only just edged out by Rathmore Castle in the Grade Three Monksfield, to suggest he is up to this task as well.

For a bumper winner on heavy ground, the slow early pace on relatively good going in the Monksfield was hardly ideal but there was no doubting his resolution as Gem Daly fought his rival all the way to the line.

This weekend's conditions should place much more of an emphasis on stamina and Meade reported yesterday: "Gem Daly is in good form and came out of his last race well. Some people say he was a bit unlucky but he ran a good race anyway."

Meade's other declaration, Sigma Digital, is not a certain starter and of the four other opponents, maybe the Cork winner Decoy Daddy is open to the sort of improvement that will trouble Gem Daly.

Meade also has an intriguing starter in the Grade Two Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle where he hikes the Morgiana winner Jazz Messenger up to two and a half miles against a distance specialist like Sweet Kiln.

Only an inspired Paul Carberry denied the Bowe runner a Hatton's Grace triumph earlier in the month and now she has to contend against another top-class Meade runner who failed at two and a half in last April's Aintree Hurdle.

"We think Jazz Messenger will handle it all right. He has always looked like he will stay and he's a strong stayer on the flat so we're happy to take out chance," Meade said. "Now he is getting more experience, he's jumping better and I hope that continues to Sunday."

Glencove Marina is an eye-catching recruit to fences after a return to action in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and his stable companion Our Ben can make a successful return from hurdling to go well in the Grade Two bumper.

The €60,000 O'Connell Logistics Hilly Way Chase is the two-mile feature at Cork tomorrow and while the 2004 AIG winner Foreman is an eye-catching entry for his new trainer Charlie Swan, and the former race winners Tumbling Dice and Central House go again, a value alternative may be The Railway Man. Arthur Moore's Grade One winner hasn't run in over a year but he looks a type to do well at shorter distances and the stable's representatives are running well recently.

Uncle Junior and Parsons Pistol may end up dominating the Grade Three novice hurdle and over this marathon trip, Noel Meade's proven stayer could be the best option.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times