Tatenen faces eight rivals in hot Grade 1 novice The Willie Mullins-trained Cooldine heads the home defence against Tatenen after nine were declared for the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Friday. Paul Nicholls sends Tatenen across the Irish Sea for the Grade One prize, and his four-year-old is already a warm order for the Arkle in March after impressing in two runs over fences. Cooldine won five novice hurdles in a row at the start of the year before being upped significantly in class to finish fourth behind Blazing Bailey at the Punchestown Festival. He looked good when taking a beginners chase at Thurles last month under Paul Townend, and the rising star of the Irish weigh room will again be in the saddle as Ruby Walsh is on duty in Kempton. 'It looks a very strong contest, and the way the ground is drying out would be my major worry,' said Mullins. 'I'm keen to get him some more experience over the minimum trip before we think about stepping him up in distance,' he added. Made In Taipan, impressive over fences this term at Naas and Navan, is another major player along with Tom Cooper's likeable Forpadydeplasterer. Nicholls, meanwhile, told Teletext, 'The track and ground should suit him. It will be the toughest race he has run in with Cooldine, Made In Taipan and Forpadydeplasterer in there. But he gets 11lb off the older horses and it was the obvious race for him.'
