Horse Racing FAMOUS 5

THE biggest show on turf is a sniff over three weeks away and already the bookies are looking at our great land to beating last year's record of nine Irish winners. So this seems like the perfect opportunity to take a good look at five Irish horses that are in with a magnificent shout of Cheltenham gold.

Irish Sunday Mirror Sport's racing expert RYAN McELLIGOTT gives you his big five for glory in Gloucestershire next month.

BRAVE INCA

Target: Champion Hurdle VICTORIOUS in last year's Champion Hurdle, Colm Murphy's charge will be bidding for his third victory at the festival.

Brave Inca looked at least as good as ever when winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December, but had to settle for second in an epic AIG Hurdle last month.

Nonetheless, he remains the shortest price Irish-trained contender for the Champion Hurdle and many expect him to deal with the threat posed by England's Detroit City. Hardy Eustace and Macs Joy are two other formidable opponents, but the nine-year-old seems to reserve his very best for Prestbury Park.

WAR OF ATTRITION

Target: Gold Cup

THE Presenting gelding is bidding for a repeat success in the Gold Cup, but faces no easy task against star chaser Kauto Star.

Successful on his return to action at Punchestown in October, he has since met with defeat on his next three starts.

However, better ground at the festival is likely to bring about substantial improvement in War Of Attrition, who will follow last year's path to success by heading straight from Leopardstown's Christmas meeting to Cheltenham.

Trainer Mouse Morris has few peers when it comes to bringing horses to their peak for this meeting and hopes are growing that he can again emerge victorious.

LOUNAOS

Target: Triumph Hurdle

LOUNAOS will bid to become the first Irish-trained filly to win the Triumph since Michael O'Brien's Shawiya prevailed in 1993.

In three starts she has already established herself as a top drawer juvenile hurdler and is a deserving ante post favourite for the race.

Although beaten last time, she advanced her Triumph claims with an excellent fourth to Hardy Eustace in the AIG. Soft ground seems to bring about the best in the French import but trainer Eoin Griffin feels that good ground will hold no fears for her and there is certainly better to come from this emerging star.

ARAN CONCERTO

Target: Supreme Novices/ Ballymore Properties Hurdle

HAILED by Noel Meade as possibly the best horse he has ever trained following his victory in a Naas bumper in October, Aran Concerto has since gone a long way towards justifying Meade's faith and looks poised to give Meade a third Cheltenham winner.

An unlucky defeat on his jumping debut has been followed by three straight wins that included a pair of impressive Grade 1 successes.

His Cheltenham target is still undecided, but he is a worthy short priced favourite for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle.

He could well improve for better ground and would take some beating if heading for that race.

CORK ALL STAR

Target: Bumper

ONLY three times since its introduction in 1992 has the Cheltenham bumper failed to fall to an Irish-trained horse and Jessica Harrington's charge currently looks the country's chief hope for the race.

The flat bred gelding was a winner on firm ground at Cork in July and followed up at Galway three weeks later.

However, it was his effort in capturing a well contested winners event at Cheltenham in November that marked him down as a leading contender for this prize.

His trainer has an enviable record with her runners at this meeting and his previous course experience will stand to him next month.

source: findarticles.com