Hi all,
A bumper weekend of racing continues today. Attention switches across the Irish Sea to Fairyhouse which hosts an eight-race card for the second day of its Winter Festival. There are three Grade 1’s, the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (1.05), Drinmore Novice Chase (1.35) and Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (2.40). The latter race will see the seasonal return of Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle. Add in a couple of competitive handicaps and you have a tremendous afternoon of action.
There’s also a decent enough card at Carlisle weather permitting although that track does face a precautionary morning inspection. It’s Fairyhouse that I’m concentrating on in today’s preview. The field sizes for the big races seemed to have held up well despite the good ground.
As ever my betting advice can be found at the end of today’s preview.
Fairyhouse
12:35 – One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) – 2m
Fil Dor looked a high-class juvenile prospect when winning at Down Royal on his first start for Gordon Elliott. Lunar Power also won last time out Punchestown 15-days ago and is another open to improvement.
1:05 – BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
My Mate Mozzie looked a high-class novice when making it 2-2 over hurdles in a Grade 3 at Navan last time. Showed a nice turn of foot two out that day and can do better still. Gordon Elliott has saddled three of the last four winners and has two possible winners in Mighty Potter & Three Stripe Life. Both won on their hurdle debuts and my slight preference would be for the latter who won over C&D earlier this month. Impervious is one of two mares in the field. The 5-year -old is one of the more experienced of the eight runners. Having won all three of her starts over the smaller obstacles, including a Grade 3 at Down Royal last month. Open to more improvement and could be horse to put Colm Murphy back on the map.
1:35 – BARONERACING.COM Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 4f
Hopefully all ten declared runners will meet the starter. And if they, do it could be a very informative race. The last three renewals of the race have been won by Delta Work (2018) Fakir D’oudairies (2019 and last year Envoi Allen.
Gabynako, a useful hurdler, he’s already shown he will do even better over the larger obstacles. Built on the promise of his chasing debut when beating one of today’s rivals Fury Road here over a furlong further last time. Midnight Run back over fences and having is first start for 7-months has come to challenge Gabynako at the last but blundered away any chance he had. He eventually finished a 4 ½ length 4th. But for that mistake would likely have finished runner-up and isn’t out of this with Rachel Blackmore booked.
Cape Gentlemen likely came up against a useful novice chaser when trying to give the 4-year-old Riviere D’etel 18lb in a Grade 2 at Punchestown last time.
Lifetime Ambition beat Beacon Edge by 2 ¾ length at Down Royal last month. Both were making their debuts over fences and the former seemed to win fair and square. Beacon Edge was rated 33lb higher than Lifetime Ambition over hurdles but the latter has clearly improved markedly for going over the larger obstacles. I think Lifetime Ambition is the more exciting of the pair and Beacon Edge maybe better over further. However, you wouldn’t be totally surprised if he did reverse placings with the winner given the respective form of the two yards.
Gordon Elliott has saddled the winner of this five times since 2013. In addition to Fury Road he also saddles Grand Paradis. The latter was in the process of running a nice race on his chase debut when coming down two out in the beginners’ chase at Down Royal won by Lifetime Ambition. He’s open to plenty more improvement if his confidence hasn’t been affected by that fall.
2:05 – BARONERACING.COM Porterstown Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 3m 5f
Just the 11 runners go to post which is smaller than usual. Last year there were 20 runners and 15 in 2019. Clearly the dry ground hasn’t helped here.
Top-weight Coko Beach won last season’s Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and then went onto win a five runner Grade 2 Novice Chase at Navan the following month. Shaped like the race was needed after a 7-month layoff when 4th of 6 to Envoi Allen in Grade 2 event at Down Royal. The class horse of the race and should stay 3m 5f. Jack Foley takes off a handy 5lb.
I have been waiting for Stones and Roses to run since he won a handicap chase over 3m 1f at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. He was raised 13lb for that success but given he’s only seven and has only had eight career starts he’s open to more improvement over fences. The ground would be a concern though as his two career wins have come on soft & heavy ground.
No going issues with The Dabbler won a beginners’ chase at Ballinrobe in August and novice at Gowran last month and failed by a head to land the hat trick when back in handicap company at Galway last month. He’s been raised 5lb for that run and is 3lb out of the weights but probably remains on a workable mark if he stays 3m 5f, stays 3m well enough.
Milan Native is having first start since pulling up in the Grand National at Aintree. Won the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and won a minor race at Galway on his seasonal return. Struggled for most of last season but if Gordon Elilott has him back to something like his best, he’s not handicapped out of this.
Forza Milan won over fences at the tenth attempt when winning a Fairyhouse novice chase in January. Back in form when 18½ lengths 4th of 13 to Strictlyadancer in an amateur rider’s handicap chase at Cheltenham last time. Finished 4th of 20 in this race 12 months ago and another big run can be expected given he goes well here.
2:40 – BARONERACING.COM Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4f
All eyes on Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle here. The mare is 13 from 13 under rules and is the best 2m /2m 4f hurdler in Britain & Ireland. She won this race last year on her seasonal reappearance although it must be said that this race was her hardest race of the season. The ground will be quicker than 12 months ago but apart from that its hard to see her being beaten. Of her nine rivals Roland Pump ran her to ½ length 12 months ago and has each way claims again. Saldier looks the most likely to take advantage should Honeysuckle not he at her best. The Willie Mullins trained 7-year-old won the Galway Hurdle off a mark of 155 over the summer. That was a great weight carrying performance. He’s since gone onto to win a Grade 3 at Tipperary. Just his second start beyond 2m 1f but if he stays does have race fitness on his side.
3:10 – BARONERACING.COM Handicap Hurdle (Grade A) – 2m
Plenty in with a chance in this big field handicap hurdle and is arguably the most competitive race on the card.
Eskylane, Magic Tricks & Light Brigade finished 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively in a valuable handicap hurdle at Down Royal last month. Eskylane is up 10lb for that win which makes life difficult.
Magic Tricks was 4 ½ lengths behind his stablemate last time but does get 7lb now and is entitled to get closer. He’s talented but does find winning hard though.
Light Brigade was in good form in the earlier part of the year winning a C&D maiden hurdle here before going onto win a handicap hurdle at Naas and ending the season by finishing a neck 2nd of 22 at the Punchestown Festival. He was headed two out by Eskylane last time but quickly folded. He’s surely capable of better than that performance.
Visionarian won a handicap hurdle at Down Royal before finishing 5th of 19 at the Galway Festival. Looked the most likely winner coming to two out that day but probably didn’t stay 2m 7f. Dropped down to 2m 1f and put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a ½-length 2nd of 12 at Killarney last time. Nudged up 4lb for that effort but on a sound surface the 6-year-old must be respected.
Dads Lad won a Sligo maiden hurdle last month. Before putting in an even better performance when winning at Cork (soft) on his handicap hurdle 14-days ago. He’s been hiked up 11lb for that win but the 6-year-old has only had three starts over the smaller obstacles and is open to more improvement.
Glan, a dual bumper winner last season, won mares maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in October before finishing a 11½ lengths 3rd of 7 to Impervious in Grade 3 mares’ hurdle at Down Royal last time. Takes on experienced handicappers here, on just her 4th start over hurdles, but she’s only a 4-year-old and should be open to more progress on her handicap debut.
Autumn Evening, another 4-year-old, showed much improved form to win the Lartigue Handicap Hurdle at Listowel in September and maintained that improvement when unseating his rider two out in Grade 3 at Naas 22-days ago. Likely would have finished second at worst that day. Back in handicap company and very much in the mix.
Betting Advice:
Fairyhouse
1:35 – 1pt win – Grand Paradis – 9/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
2:05 – 1pt win – Milan Native – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power and 1pt win – Forza Milan – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:10 – 1pt win – Visionarian – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Light Brigade – 9/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John