Thyne could seal Arkle spot

Thyne Again could yet earn his ticket to the Cheltenham festival at Naas on Sunday where the highly rated novice has a choice of options, including a possible clash with the star mare J'y Vole.

Both of the leading novices feature among the 16 entries for the Grade Two Woodlands Park Rás na Riogh Novice Chase over two-and-a-half miles, and Thyne Again has also been left in the two-mile Paddy Power Newlands Chase on the same card.

His trainer, Liam Burke, intends to run Thyne Again in one of them and is leaning towards the novice event, despite the horse having just over six lengths to make up on J'y Vole on PJ Moriarty Chase form at Leopardstown.

The Cork trainer is also keen to try his stable star at the longer trip after being left frustrated at Thyne Again's Moriarty display, where Davy Russell dropped the horse out at the start.

"I don't think it was one of his better rides," said Burke, who added that the season's leading jockey will again be on board.

"I would like to get another run into him, as it would tell us a bit more about the horse. It would also tell us about Cheltenham. The Arkle is the race for him there, although the ground would have to be soft for us to go."

Thyne Again remains as low as 14 to 1 in ante-post betting for the Arkle.

Willie Mullins has yet to decide if J'y Vole will take her chance on Sunday, but he has already indicated the mare could bypass Cheltenham and wait instead for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over Easter.

Mullins has five entries remaining among the 21 left in the Johnstown Hurdle, including Cooldine and the promising four-year- old Dani California. Also in the two-and-a-half mile event are another leading juvenile, Siege Of Ennis, and Woodbine Willie, who is a 20 to 1 shot in betting for the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Newlands is the third Grade Two up for grabs on Sunday and Nickname could return to the minimum trip after an unsuccessful attempt at three miles in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Also among the 13 entries are the Tied Cottage winner Don't Be Bitin' and last Sunday's shock, 50 to 1 winner Maralan from Oliver Brady's yard.

Time Electric, one of the market leaders for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, may have a festival warm-up in Sunday's bumper which provided a stepping stone to Cheltenham success for Pizarro in 2002 and Hairy Molly in 2006.

"I've entered him as an option as he is doing so well and we will make up our minds on Friday," said Time Electric's trainer Tom Mullins. "He lived up to all our expectations when he won at Leopardstown at Christmas.

"Touch wood, everything keeps fine, as he is a very exciting prospect who is above the average horse. But he wouldn't run on very fast ground at Cheltenham," he added.

In other Cheltenham news, Michael O'Brien confirmed De Valira was on course for the Champion Hurdle after a comeback fourth behind Catch Me in last weekend's Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times