Cradle Mountain (right) finishing second at Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien is hoping for another big show from Irish Cesarewitch runner-up Cradle Mountain in the valuable Tote November Handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The JP McManus-owned gelding chased home Laws Of Spin at the Curragh on his most recent start and tackles another €100,000 contest now, as the curtain comes down on the Flat turf season.
O'Brien admits the four-year-old is a bit of a "character" but the gelding has done well since switching to the Pilltown handler, winning twice over hurdles and finishing placed on three other occasions over timber.
"He's in good form and he ran well in the Cesarewitch. He doesn't have a great draw, but it could be worse and hopefully he runs a good race," said O'Brien.
"He takes a bit of riding and he's a character, but in fairness to him he's a consistent enough sort at the same time.
"When you get stuck into him he keeps pulling it out, so you'd have to hand that to him. He just appears lazy."
Six others who finished in behind Cradle Mountain reoppose and the most notable may be Swamp Fox, who was just half a length adrift in third.
Joe Murphy's charge travelled well into contention in the two-miler and may appreciate the slightly shorter trip now on an easier track.
Murphy has given his charge an entry in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next month, and said : "It will depend on the going and how he is, but we have entered Swamp Fox to give us the option.
"He has won on different types of ground but I would say at this stage he is better with some cut.
"We will see how he gets on there (Leopardstown) and then decide where we will go next."
He added: "I think he is a very promising horse. He has done well to win four competitive races as a four-year-old. His wins at Galway and Listowel came against some good opposition and then it was a good run to come third in the Cesarewitch."
Renneti heads the weights for the one-mile-seven-furlong contest and has to deal with a 17lb hike for his runaway success at Naas.
Trainer Willie Mullins turns to former pony racing champion Danny Sheehy to take 10lb of that burden off his back.
Roconga looks another dual-purpose performer in with a shout in a seriously competitive contest.
Edward O'Grady's charge comes into the race on a hat-trick following a win over hurdles at Killarney and a smooth Flat success at Fairyhouse last time out.
Three British raiders take their chances at the big pot and the Ralph Beckett-trained Magic Circle could be a major player with Pat Smullen an eyecatching booking.
The Makfi gelding was not beaten far in a competitive event off the same mark at Haydock having been a good winner at York previously.
