Cause for optimism in Drinmore Cause Of Causes attempts to land that elusive first success over fences in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old ran very creditably in several handicap chases last term, including when runner-up in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. The JP McManus-owned gelding ended the campaign finishing 12th to Shutthefrontdoor in the Irish Grand National. The six-year-old now steps into Grade One novice company, with Tony McCoy riding for just the second time. "Gordon is happy with him and he's in good form. It's a classy race, hopefully he'll run well," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry. "He ran well in the Paddy Power and he ran well in Cheltenham in the Kim Muir last year. With a bit of luck he could have won one of them. It's another step up for him, but he's well and ready to take his chance." Apache Stronghold had class form as a novice hurdler last term, despite having his campaign interrupted by injury. He showed he could have a lucrative career over bigger obstacles when getting off the mark at the first attempt in good style at Down Royal a month ago. "He's a horse we like and he won his beginners' (chase) in the north," trainer Noel Meade told goracing.ie. "He didn't probably have much to do, but he was second to Vautour in Punchestown and he had a kind of troubled season last year. "He had a stress crack and missed the middle of it. He's a big horse and we're hoping he could fill up some of the gaps. He looks a nice horse and we're looking forward to running him."
