Beach prep for history bid Thomas O'Leary is happy with preparations for Preists Leap as he bids to become the first horse to win the Thyestes Handicap Chase for the third time when the 57th running of the event takes place on January 21st at Gowran Park, under the new sponsorship banner of Tenderleen. The Luso gelding scored off 125 in 2008, he was possibly even better off 135 twelve months ago and he will have to defy a mark another eleven pounds higher this year if he is going to make history. January 22nd 2009 was a day the Clonakilty, Co Cork handler will never forget as he doubled up on Gowran's big day when Hurricane Carter also won. That chestnut son of Zaffaran is now also being aimed at the big one in just under a fortnight. O'Leary commented this morning: "We're going to the beach a lot these days, we're bringing the two of them to the beach about five days a week because we are frozen up here. They are coming along grand and the beach is only 20 minutes away. "We're lucky to have the beach near us. So long as the ground is soft or heavy, even though he is up another eleven pounds from last year, Preists Leap will still put up a good show. He is very strong. Hopefully he won't be giving away much more than a stone to the main contenders. "Hurricane Carter missed a run at Thurles yesterday, so I'm a bit worried about that. We'll do the best we can at home, all we can do is keep going to the beach because it looks like it is going to be frozen for another week. "I'd be very happy with Preists Leap because he had a run at Tramore. Hurricane Carter would ideally need a run but we'll just have to do the best we can at home. "Philip Enright (who won on Preists Leap in 2008 and 2009) said he'd give me an answer or whether he'll be able to ride him again, today. We'd love if he could ride him. If he couldn't we'd consider using a claimer to take some of the weight off his back. "If there was some very good claimer we'd be happy out because the horse has a load of experience. I just don't know yet." Philip Enright of course is attached to Robert Tyner's yard and with Footy Facts engaged in the three miler for the Kinsale handler, the Kerry born jockey will have a tough choice to make. Incidentally, O'Leary's hopes, Preists Leap and Hurricane Carter were both bred by the Dorans in Wexford.
