Kitten and Shanes ready for battle Exciting prospects Kitten Rock and Shaneshill do battle in what promises to be a fascinating Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Naas on Sunday. The Edward O'Grady-trained Kitten Rock won six of his nine starts over hurdles before rounding off last season by finishing sixth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. He made a fine start to his career over fences at Navan early November and O'Grady is looking forward to seeing him continue his education in County Kildare. He said: "We had hoped to run him in the Grade One at Christmas (Racing Post Novice Chase, Leopardstown), but had a few niggly problems and I just felt it would be better to wait another week. "I'm not sure this race is any easier than the Grade One, to be honest, but he seems in good shape, so we'll see how he goes on Sunday. "I think conditions will be all right for him, I hope so, anyway." Shaneshill, runner-up to brilliant stable companion Douvan in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, also looked a smart recruit to the chasing ranks when making a successful start at Thurles and trainer Willie Mullins does not expect a drop in trip to be a problem. He said: "Shaneshill is coming back to two miles but I think he will have no problem with that. "He has enough speed to come back. Whether he can jump at that speed or not is another day's work, but he jumped well in Thurles. "He's versatile distance-wise and two miles at Naas is going to be testing in the ground." Henry de Bromhead will be hoping Sizing Codelco fares better than when falling at the first fence in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in early December. Shantou Ed, Ballyroe Rambler and Burren River complete a six-runner field.
