Baron is ready for fences The best wine may be saved until last at Roscommon tomorrow evening when the www.roscommonracecourse.ie Beginners Chase can definitely lay claim to being one of the most interesting events on the eight race card that kicks off at 5.15. A winner of six on the level – all over ten furlongs up the Curragh – two over flights and with ratings of 93 on the flat and 119 over hurdles, Baron De'l is a classy recruit to the chasing game. His trainer Eddie Harty said today: "To be honest I haven't had a chance to look at the race yet, I'm going out the door to Leopardstown. We've been planning to go chasing with him for a while but I wanted to wait, particularly for Roscommon, because I think it's a lovely track to start off. "He's schooled well and we're hopeful. It'll be interesting; he's schooled well at home. He hasn't got any headgear on tomorrow – not first time – I didn't do it first time over hurdles either." Niall 'Slippers' Madden rides Baron De'l tomorrow and his rivals include Ronan O'Gara's Your Busy. Ruby Walsh will ride this James Nash-trained dual hurdle (both over longer trips than tomorrow's two miles) winner and placed on all three starts over fences to date. Mag Mullins launches the chasing career of Chomba Womba's half-brother Down In Neworleans. He's won two over hurdles but his trainer is on record as saying: "He's a huge horse and wants a fence - he'll go chasing next year." That quote was after the Saddlers' Hall gelding won at Clonmel in February. Other big contenders are John O'Shea's Gudnis Gracious Me (rated 124 over hurdles) and Davy Russell's mount Beckwith Star. (EM)
