The Dessie Hughes-trained Rare Bob became the latest potential Irish candidate to throw his metaphorical hat into the ring for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after putting up a fine performance to land the Tote Pick Six Every Sunday Leopardstown Handicap Chase, writes Elliot Slater.

Victory in the Grade A event, which carried a prize of in excess of £42,000 to the winner, ended a 20-month lean spell for the nine-year-old son of Bob Back who had appeared to have the world at his feet after winning the Grade 1 Boylesports.com Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown in the spring of 2009, after which he was spoken of in some quarters as a potential future Gold Cup contender, although probably not this year, as the Cheltenham Gold Cup odds indicate.

Despite one or two decent efforts in the interim, Rare Bob’s handicap rating had dropped 10lbs to 145, a mark off which he proved successful on Sunday when carrying 11st 10lbs to a two length victory over Got Attitude, to whom he was conceding 20lbs. Winning trainer Dessie Hughes has his string in fine form at present and was clearly delighted with his winner who was wearing blinkers for the first time in his career.

A crack at the Ryanair Chase was mentioned as a possibility at the post-race de-briefing, Rare Bob currently being priced up at a best price of 33/1 for a contest that his handler so nearly landed back in 2009 when Schindler’s Hunt went very close in a thrilling race that eventually fell to subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

Other potential Irish challenger’s for this season’s Ryanair include Tranquil Sea (7/1), Golden Silver (10/1), and J’Y Vole (12/1).

As a jockey, Irishman Dessie Hughes scaled the heights, winning the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and the Champion Hurdle two years later when partnering Monksfield to a famous success over Sea Pigeon. Now, more than 30 years on, Hughes has his best chance of winning the John Smith’s Grand National as the trainer of both Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi, writes Elliot Slater.

Already seen as serious contenders for honours at Aintree this year, Hughes did nothing to lessen the excitement emanating from his yard when sending out Vic Venturi to win the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month, with Black Apalachi also running a cracker to come second.

Vic Venturi, a best priced 20/1, has already proven his ability to handle the daunting Aintree fences in winning the Becher Chase over one circuit of the National course back in November. He stays well and handles the soft ground that is now anticipated for the world’s greatest steeplechase, although the final going will depend on the Grand National weather.

For his part, Black Apalachi has also won the Becher Chase but is probably best known to the betting public for his heroics in last year’s Grand National where he put up a tremendous display of bold front-running and was still going strongly in the lead when blundering and unseating Denis O’Regan at Becher’s on the second circuit. It was still too early to be sure, but there is no doubt that Hughes’ charge was revelling in the experience and might well have finished in the first four had he put in a clean round.

Bookmakers are taking few chances this time around and Black Apalachi who is currently quoted at a best priced 14/1. It would be no surprise to see those odds shorten considerably in the 48 hours before the race as the betting public are shown video reminders of his big run 12 months ago. Those who want to place a Grand National bet on the 11-year-old might be best advised to take a price sooner rather than later.

Dessie Hughes is one of Ireland’s most established and skilled trainers, who has had consistent success with numerous horses over the years, most notably with Hardy Eustace. A successful jockey in his own right, he won the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and he also beat Sea Pigeon, riding Monksfield in his most famous victory in the Champion Hurdle.

In 1980 he took out his own training licence and had early success with Light The Wad who won the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in 1982 and the 1981 and 1982 renewals of the Drogheda Chase at Punchestown. And in 1982 had a coveted Cheltenham victory with Miller Hill in the Supreme Novice Hurdle.

In 2001 Hughes bought Hardy Eustace for IR£21,000 and Central House for IR£28,000, who went on to win a total of twenty-five races between them, including nine Grade Ones. Hardy Eustace in particular proved to be a consistent hurdler who was particularly forthcoming at Cheltenham and has already earned over €1million in his career.

Hughes bought Schindlers Hunt at the same place as Hardly Eustace and Central House for €28,000, and he has already won the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Lepordstown and the Baileys Irish Arkle just one month later. He went on to win the 2008 renewal of the Dan Moore Handicap Chase and the the 2009 Leopardstown Handicap Chase before going on to be Grade One placed at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.

Dessie Hughes also trains Black Apalachi who has recently stunned his trainer by becoming one of the Grand National favourites following a superb victory in the Becher Chase last November. Hughes was surprised as the horse had started off well in his career but had taken a bit of a downturn. He is now well back on track, so it may prove to be third time lucky for the gelding.

Hughes also has another Grand National 2010 hopeful in Vic Venturi who, after stealing the show at the Beechers Chase in November 2009, and at just nine years of age, is in his prime for this kind of race. Again, he was not on top form for the past couple of years but the latter half of 2009 has shown his true potential with two wins and a second from three starts.

Overall Hughes’ chances of success at two of the biggest meetings in the racing calender are looking promising! To have a bet on either of these horses winning the 2010 Grand National go to Paddy Power Bookmakers!