Central Out To Bring The House Down

Central House will try to gain some compensation for his controversial defeat at Leopardstown over Christmas when he lines up in Sunday´s Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse.

The nine-year-old looked set for success in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase only for jockey Roger Loughran to mistake the winning post and ease up 100 yards from the line.

Central House eventually finished third behind Hi Cloy and Fota Island and will be without regular pilot Loughran as he is currently serving a suspension for that mistake.

Trainer Dessie Hughes said: 'We´re very happy with the horse, he´s in good form. He´s a lovely horse and it´s fair to say it looked as though he was going to win.

'He will have to give Fota Island 5lb on Sunday which will make it a bit more difficult for him and he will be without Roger, who gets on so well with him.'

Loughran´s absence allows Paul Carberry to step in for the ride and renew a partnership that has yielded four successes in past seasons.

'Paul hasn´t been down to sit on him but there´s no need really as he´s won on the horse before and knows him well,' Hughes added.

Central House is as low as 8-1 with Ladbrokes for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but Hughes is not sure whether Sunday´s race will be his final outing before the Festival.

'We won´t know what the plan is until after Sunday,' he explained.

'We will see how he runs and comes out of it then we may give him another run before Cheltenham, depending on whether he needs it.'

Mouse Morris´ Fota Island, the mount of Tony McCoy, takes his chance in the two-mile-one-furlong event along with the Jessica Harrington-trained Strike Back.

Old Flame from the Paul Nolan yard and David Casey´s mount John James complete the line-up.

(C) PA Sport