Vent faces Flogas test Liz Doyle expects to find out just how good Le Vent D'Antan is when he runs in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday. The County Wexford handler is giving her stable star the chance of Grade One glory on the back of an emphatic first victory over fences at the same venue over Christmas. Le Vent D'Antan is stepping up in distance as well as class, but Doyle is happy to give him the opportunity. "He's in great form and I've been really happy since his run. It couldn't have gone any better," she said. "We've had nowhere else to go. It's going to be nice to dip our toe in and see how good he is. "It's a furlong further than his run before. That won't be a problem, he operates round Leopardstown and he jumped great the last day. It's a tough race but we couldn't be happier with him. He's in great nick." At the other end of the scale is The Tullow Tank, a Grade One winner over timber who looked very good first time out over fences. Since then he has disappointed twice, albeit in Grade One class, but his connections expect him to shape much better. Owner Barry Connell said of the Sandra Hughes-trained seven-year-old: "We just weren't happy with his jumping but he seems better in himself now. We've worked on a few things. "We're going there hopeful rather than confident, you couldn't be confident after his last two runs but he's schooling better now. "He looked such a natural first time out, hopefully he's back in that form." Nine will go to post with the Willie Mullins-trained Valseur Lido set to go off a short-priced favourite. Stablemates Jarry D'Honneur and Adriana Des Mottes also have claims. Noel Meade runs Apache Stronghold, Mouse Morris' classy hurdle Rule The World steps up in class and Henry de Bromhead's Shanahan's Turn adds further spice.
