River All Set For Double Bid

Paul Nolan believes Cloone River has every chance of landing the spoils when bidding for back-to-back victories in the Guinness Galway Hurdle tomorrow.

The County Wexford-based handler is responsible for three of the 20 runners declared for the two-mile feature, with Cloone River bidding to follow up last year´s two-length success under John Cullen.

And thanks to stablemate Accordion Etoile topping the handicap on 12st 4lb, the nine-year-old will race off his winning weight of 12 months ago - 10st 7lb.

'We have got three runners and hopefully all have got sporting chances,' said Nolan.

'Accordion has a lot of weight but Robbie (Moran) is claiming 7lb off him - he´s a class horse.

'Cloone River is in great shape, he had a nice prep run at the Curragh when we just hoped that he would be in the first six, but he won it.

'Dabaroun is carrying a nice weight (9st 10lb) and Nina Carberry rides him again. He has won at Cheltenham so he will handle the undulations of the track, but the ground may be on the quicker side for him - he would probably appreciate a little bit of cut.

'I have just walked the track and there does seem to be a little bit of juice in it - it is beautiful ground.

'The other two will love the fast ground, although there is some rain forecast tomorrow. If it does arrive it shouldn´t make a lot of difference to the ground.'

Cloone River last raced over hurdles when winning the Galway Hurdle last year, having been sent chasing soon after only to be ruled out of the Arkle due to a muscle problem.

However, he has bounced back from that setback and warmed up for a repeat success at Galway when winning on the Flat at the Curragh on Irish Derby day.

'Cloone River will have come on for that run at the Curragh the other week and with a bit of luck in running he will have a great chance,' Nolan added.

'He has been jumping well at home - he has jumped hurdles twice as we needed to bring him down a little bit after jumping fences, but it has all gone well as he is an intelligent horse and I just hope he comes home safe tomorrow.

'He is a horse that we need to drop out and give cover to, so I am hoping that there won´t be any traffic problems and we will get the run of the race.

'I am never confident, but I am certainly hopeful he can win it again.'

One of Cloone River´s main rivals is Noel Meade´s Listed Aintree winner Definate Spectacle, who warmed up for tomorrow´s race by beating Tropical Lady on the level at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

The five-year-old will be joined in the race by stablemates More Rainbows, Athlumney Lad - fourth to Cloone River at the Curragh and second at Galway on Monday - and Moratorium.

'He has got loads of boot,' Definate Spectacle´s jockey Paul Carberry told At The Races.

'He won well in Aintree and was second in the Swinton Hurdle, so if he puts in one of those runs he could have a great chance off that weight (10st 5lb).

'I was hoping that the top horse (Accordion Etoile) would stay in to keep my fellow down at that weight.

'They should go pretty quick tomorrow so there will be no problem coming with a late run.'

Taking Definate Spectacle on again is Martin Pipe´s Say What You See, who finished eight lengths away when second at Aintree, and is the sole British runner in the field.

Sandwiched between Accordion Etoile and Cloone River in the weights is Dermot Weld´s Ansar, who runs in the Galway Plate this afternoon, with his trainer having also declared Akshar.

Guinness Galway Hurdle, Paddy Power bet: 9-4 Cloone River, 7-1 Definate Spectacle, 10-1 Calorando, 12-1 Say What You See, Sky´s The Limit, 14-1 Accordion Etoile, Callow Lake, 16-1 bar.

? PA Sport