Watson Lake And Accordion Etoile Clash Again The Grade 2 Byrne Group Plc Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday has attracted five runners and features an intriguing clash between Noel Meade's Watson Lake and Paul Nolan's Accordion Etoile. These two horses clashed at Limerick in October when Watson Lake proved superior by two and a half lengths but as that was Accordion Etoile's first run over fences, he is open to considerable improvement and could well be capable of reversing those placings. Accordion Etoile has not raced since winning a graded event at Cheltenham in November and this is likely to be his last race before a tilt at the Arkle Trophy at the big Festival meeting there in mid-March for which he is currently one of the ante-post favourites. Watson Lake is an intended runner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the same meeting and Meade's charge will be out to enhance his prospects for that race while the Dessie Hughes trained Central House is also among the five runner field. A disappointing last of four behind Fota Island at Fairyhouse two weeks ago, Central House had earlier landed the Fortria Chase at Navan and the Hilly Way Chase at Cork and connections will be hoping that he re-captures his best form on Sunday. On the same card, the Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle has also attracted a field of five headed by Noel Meade's Iktitaf. An impressive winner of the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early December, this classy five year old is a likely runner in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and connections will be hoping for another good performance on Sunday. John Carr's Sublimity and Tommy Stack's Tolpuddle are both recent maiden hurdle winners which should go on to better things and are likely to provide Iktitaf with plenty to think about while multiple winners Mounthenry and Ceeawayhome complete the quintet in what should prove to be a most informative and exciting contest.The first of eight races is off at 1.10 pm and there is a Jackpot Pool Guarantee of ?15,000.
