Scudamore hopeful with Dane raider

Tom Scudamore is hopeful the revitalised Premier Dane can continue his fantastic summer by plundering the valuable Guinness Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday.

Having enjoyed a fruitful career when trained by Nicky Richards, the 10-year-old made the move south to David Pipe's yard earlier this summer and has hit the ground running with three victories from as many starts.

A comfortable chase win at Stratford was sandwiched by hurdle race successes at Market Rasen and Newton Abbot, with Scudamore passing over the veteran on the latter occasion in favour of a better-fancied stablemate.

The jockey has been slimming for the last fortnight as Premier Dane looked set to carry just 9st 10lb in the three-mile contest, but the weights rose a stone after the declaration stage, meaning Scudamore's not inconsiderable efforts have been in vain.

However, the rider remains optimistic about his chances as Premier Dane aims to bring the near 100,000 euros first prize back to Britain.

"I would have done 9st 10lb as well, but it's fine and he still gets into the race on a nice racing weight. At least I can go and have some lunch now!" said Scudamore.

"The horse is in great form. This is obviously another step up for him but he has carried all before him this summer and hopefully David's magic can continue.

"I rode him work last week and he's in really good order.

"I'm not too worried about the ground. Obviously it's going to be testing, but then it was fairly testing at Newton Abbot last time. I didn't ride him that day because I was slightly worried about conditions for him, now I wish I had.

"He's a 10-year-old now so you'd be hard pushed to say he's improving, but he does seem to have thrived since coming to Pond House.

"Hopefully he's going there with an outstanding chance."

Challenging Premier Dane for favouritism is the Willie Mullins-trained Themoonandsixpence, a horse who has not been seen since finishing a close second in the 2010 Galway Plate.

Although the champion trainer is pleased with his nine-year-old's condition despite the lengthy absence, the testing ground is a major concern.

Mullins said: "I think he's fine but I'm not sure he's going to like the ground.

"It's a big prize so we'll let him take his chance, but I don't think this would be his favourite ground.

"The plan was hopefully to go to the Galway Plate last month and then come here, but Galway was always coming a bit too soon for him and we had to wait.

"Hopefully he's straight enough now, but I'm not confident about his chances on this ground."

The Pat Hughes-trained Caduceus was last seen winning a staying handicap at Punchestown in early May, and has been given a break since.

Hughes said: "He hasn't run since May and this race wasn't really the plan.

"He hasn't been back in all that long but he's a horse who gets himself fit quite quickly, so I stuck him in the race to see if he'd get in. He has, so we thought we might as well give it a go.

"He's in good form and hopefully the ground will be all right for him.

"You wouldn't think it to look at him as he's quite a light-framed horse, but he's won in soft ground a few times and the formbook doesn't lie.

"We'll get over tomorrow before we look any further as coming here has been a change of plan."

Paul Gillian's Wellforth is on a hat-trick after wins at Galway and Bangor and the trainer is hoping his charge can continue his run of good form.

He said: "He's in good shape and he's just after coming to himself the last two or three months.

"It's a shame the weights didn't stay as they were, but everyone is in the same boat. It just gives those down the bottom of the weights a bit more chance.

"The heavy ground will suit him, so hopefully he'll run a big race. As long as he comes home safe and sound, all well and good."

The admirable Fosters Cross is turned out under a penalty a week after winning at Galway and trainer Tom Mullins reports the 10-year-old to be in good shape.

He said: "He always takes his races well and this time has been no different. He seems to have come out of Galway in good form.

"The ground is not ideal for him, but we're happy enough to let him take his chance.

"The weights have gone up but he carries weight as good as, if not better, than most horses, so I'm not worried about that really. We have a good claimer on in Declan (Lavery) as well."