Grade 1 hero Master McShee to advertise Galopin Des Champs form in Webster Cup

Saturday: 4.00 Navan
Webster Cup Chase (Grade 2) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTV

Master McShee had no answer to the brilliance of Galopin Des Champs when bidding to follow up his Limerick Grade 1 breakthrough at the Dublin Racing Festival, but now Paddy Corkery's stable star faces a different test.

Having competed against novices in his opening three starts over fences, the promising eight-year-old is now taking aim at senior company for the first time and must give weight away to all of his rivals.

Considering his mark of 152, taking on the likes of Cilaos Emery (160) and Notebook (159) – and having to give 4lb and 2lb respectively to those established chasers – looks no easy task.

However, it's easy to make the case that the Faugheen Novice Chase hero is open to much more improvement than any of the five runners he faces on Saturday and Corkery has been pleased with his progress since Leopardstown.

Galopin Des Champs moves clear of Master McShee in the Ladbrokes Novice ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Corkery said: "We had the option of coming here or running in a Grade 3 novice chase at Naas on Sunday but we felt he could be as well off taking a chance here hopefully being a horse on the up.

"I'm very happy with him and we're taking on the big boys again. He's a bit of an all-rounder and has been running against some of the best young horses in training."

Gigginstown House Stud racing manager Eddie O'Leary has warned we may not see the very best version of course-and-distance winner Notebook after an imperfect preparation.

"He had a bit of a setback so will need the run," said O'Leary.

"Hopefully this will set him up nicely for a crack at the Topham."

Castlegrace Paddy was by no means disgraced when third to stablemate Dunvegan in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse when last seen in January, his first start since October.

Notebook: dual Grade 1 winner has course-and-distance formCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Pat Fahy said: "I thought he ran a lovely race last time and I'm hoping the ground isn't as heavy as last year because it changes his jumping technique when that happens. If the ground is soft and loose he can run another lovely race."

Jessica Harrington believes the more rain that falls for her 153-rated representative Sizing Pottsie, the better his chances will be.

Harrington said: "He's won around Navan before and seems in good order, but this trip might just be a bit short for him after staying two and a half miles well at Gowran last time. I hope they get plenty of rain. It's a tidy race."

Cilaos Emery, the top-rated runner in the line-up, is bound to appreciate returning to this sort of company after unseating in the Irish Gold Cup, while Early Doors may find these waters a bit too deep on his third start after a layoff.

Read more Saturday race previews:

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