Anibale Fly and Edwulf in line to tackle the Red Mills Chase at Gowran next week after missing the Irish Gold Cup
The JP McManus-owned pair could lock horns with the likes of Presenting Percy and Sizing John in the Grade 2
HIGH-PROFILE stayers Anibale Fly and Edwulf are in contention to tackle next week's Red Mills Chase at Gowran.
The JP McManus-owned pair were late non-runners in Sunday's Irish Gold Cup because of the quick ground at Leopardstown.
The Tony Martin-trained Anibale Fly, who was third in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been restricted to just one outing this winter.
Last year's Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf has been limited to two runs, last seen finishing eighth to Kemboy in the Savills Chase over Christmas.
McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said the pair could lock horns in Gowran's Grade 2 chase on 16 February.
But he also left open the possibility of Anibale Fly running in the Denman Chase at Newbury this weekend.
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Berry said: "We'll just have to see. Anibale Fly is in at Newbury and there's a race for him in Gowran. He'll go to either of those two places.
"Ground has been his biggest problem for the last few months. He's been ready to run, but just couldn't run the way the ground has been. We'll have to see how we get on.
"Edwulf could maybe go to Gowran as well."
The duo will likely face current Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy, the 2017 Gold Cup winner Sizing John and Willie Mullins' Al Boum Photo if lining up in the 2m4f feature.
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Pat Fahy is also planning to target a red-hot renewal of the Red Mills with his classy chaser Castlegrace Paddy.
The eight-year-old was an early faller in the Dublin Chase behind Min on Saturday, but Fahy is keen to get the Grade 2 winner out again quickly.
Fahy said: "It was very disappointing because I thought the one thing we could rely on was his jumping.
"At Punchestown last season, he was careful at the first and we thought he didn't jump well enough to be a top two-miler, but this year he'd been excellent.
"He ran down to the first and just didn't jump it, it was most unusual. We'll see how he is and make a plan.
"He was a bit sore on his shoulder, but hopefully he'll come right soon. It's changed the plan we had, anyway.
"The Red Mills is a possible, the timing would be pretty right if we don't get a setback.
"He had no race so there's no worry on that score, so as long as he is right soon enough it's definitely an option."