The nine-year-old looked all set for a famous victory in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Novice Chase at the Christmas meeting until his newlyturned professional jockey Roger Loughran mistook the winning post and eased his mount before the finish, handing the spoils to Hi Cloy instead.

Central House had to settle for the third spot on that occasion, but with Loughran still serving his suspension for the offence, Paul Carberry takes over the reins this afternoon. The gelding, already the winner of both the Fortria Chase and the Hilly Way Chase, is a sound jumper and will relish today's trip.

With just four rivals to contend with, success would appear to be a formality. The Mouse Morris-trained Fota Island, with Tony McCoy in the saddle, ranks as the obvious danger. Successful in valuable handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals last season, he shaped well on his seasonal reappearance when filling the runner-up spot behind Hi Cloy in the aforementioned Leopardstown race.

Fota Island is in receipt of a valuable 5lb from Central House, and the only concern about him is the fact that the 10-year-old has a preference for better ground. He is sure to turn in another valiant effort here, but Central House is preferred.

Tony McCoy has a better chance of success on another of J.P. McManus's runners, Firth Of Forth, in the Mulhuddart Novice Hurdle, in which he gets the vote over the Bowe family's Earth Magic, who was a good second to Jazz Messenger over two miles at Navan a couple of weeks ago, and Ice And Soda.

Homer Wells, from the Willie Mullins stable, was sent off favourite to land a beginners chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, only to run into a very smart sort in the Martin Brassil-trained Nickname, who has franked the form by winning again since then.

Homer Wells finished a remote second that day, but meets nothing of that calibre in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The distance may be on the short side for him, but he has plenty of experience over fences under his belt, and is still expected to account for Lissboney Project and Some Timbering.

Racing also takes place at Cork, where Tommy Stack's Lincoln winner Tolpuddle will be the main focus of attention when he makes his hurdling bow under Billy Lee in the 24-runner Millstreet Maiden Hurdle.

The selection is a proven mudlark, so the ground conditions will be in his favour, and he has the class to come home alone.

Meanwhile, at Gowran Park on Thursday, it will be standing room only for the Thyestes Chase, which is being sponsored for the first time by Ellen Construction.

There were 29 horses still left in the race at Friday's forfeit stage, including Numbersixvalverde and Kymandejen, who were separated by a short head in a thrilling finish to last year's race. The Paul Nolan-trained Kymandejen, a recent winner at Tramore, has been bought by the sponsors, especially to run in the race, which is a tip in itself.