Morning Assembly all set for Sunday's Topaz Novice Chase
Trainer Pat Fahy is confident Morning Assembly will do himself justice in Sunday's Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Last Updated: 23/12/13 4:53pm
A Grade One winner over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival in the spring, the six-year-old made a winning debut over fences at the same track in late October and returned to beat Don Cossack in a pulsating finish to the Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
Don Cossack boosted the form by winning Fairyhouse's Drinmore Novice Chase on his next start, giving Fahy confidence his charge can secure Grade One honours again this weekend.
"He's doing very well. He was on a break to freshen him up and then we brought him to the Curragh on Friday and he worked really well. We're really looking forward to it," the trainer told At The Races.
"We'll see what runs, but we're happy enough that if we get him there in good shape he'll do us proud.
"That (Don Cossack's win) was an amazing boost. To see him get up and beat a Galway Plate winner (Carlingford Lough), rated 150, I was amazed."
Ruby Walsh has partnered Morning Assembly to his two victories over fences, but looks unlikely to be available at the weekend, with his boss Willie Mullins set to saddle the exciting Ballycasey.
Fahy said: "We'll wait and see what Ruby is doing. You don't know which way these races will cut up, but we have a back-up plan."