Hi all,
A day to tuck into those Easter eggs and you can also tuck into day two of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival. There’s some high quality racing to enjoy at Fairyhouse especially if you’re a Racing TV subscriber.
The best of the action this side of the Irish Sea is to be found at Plumpton where the feature contest is the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle (4:15). As National’s go the West Wales National at Ffos Las (3:25) isn’t one of the best but for the connections of the 11 runners It’s their big day.
In today’s preview I have looked at the best of Sunday’s action and today’s selections can be found at the end of the main piece.
Fairyhouse
The highlights of an eight race card are the two Grade 1’s the WilllowWarm Gold Cup Chase (4:55) and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle (2:35).
WilllowWarm Gold Cup Chase (4:55)
Nine have been declared and they include Mighty Potter and six William Mullins trained novice chasers.
Mighty Potter was a disappointing 4/6 favourite in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. I’m not convinced that Cheltenham suits him and return to Fairyhouse is a positive. He probably wins this and is the right favourite. However, at his odds he’s worth taking on.
Of the Mullins six. Paul Townend has opted for Appreciate It who was one place and ½ length behind Mighty Potter in the Turners. He was ridden well of the pace that day which wasn’t the place to be. I’m hoping he’s ridden more positively here and if he is he then he could surprise the favourite.
The best of the rest of the Mullins contingent could be Flame Bearer. The 8-year-old was back to his best when winning at Thurles 22-days ago. Ridden more prominently last time it suited him and he could go well now his confidence is back.
Of the rest Brides Hill got off the mark at the fifth attempt over fences when winning the Listed Colreevy Mares Novice Chase at Thurles in February. The 6-year-old looks to be going the right way and in receipt of 7lb from the boys could outrun big odds and get into the money.
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle (2:35)
Ashroe Diamond was an impressive winner of a Grade 3 Novice hurdle here (2m 2 ½ f) last time. She had to miss Cheltenham due to a small setback which whilst isn’t ideal but at least she will be fresher than the likes of Magical Zoe, second in the Dawn Run Mares Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and Halka Du Tabert who was third in the same race.
Ashroe Diamond could prove to be too classy for her fifteen rivals for a trainer who has won this race five times since 2013. Stablemate Lot Of Joy was the shortest at 11/2 of those who ran in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham. The mare who had previously been a comfortable winner of a maiden hurdle here (2m) finished a disappointing 14th of 21. That surely wasn’t a true measure of the mare’s ability and she’s capable of better with the hood fitted for the first time.
Magical Zoe was a bit unlucky not to win at Cheltenham last time and provided she didn’t have to hard a race will give the favourite plenty to think about.
Halka Du Tabert should be suited by the step up to 2m 4f, but I fancy that Magical Zoe can confirm Cheltenham form with that mare.
A bigger threat could be classy flat performer Princess Zoe was a 4 ¼ length 5th in the Cheltenham race. She still needs to bush up her jumping to win but if she can jump with more fluency, she’s a big player who will really appreciate the step up to 2m 4f.
I have to say the two handicaps on the card are underwhelming. With the best of them the BoyleSports Novice Handicap Chase (Grade B) attracting just nine runners.
BoyleSports Novice Handicap Chase (Grade B)
Dinoblue ran a great race when a 6 ½ length 2nd of 19 on handicap debut in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. She would have finished a bit closer to the winner but for mistakes at the last two fences albeit probably wouldn’t have won. The one to beat provided she didn’t to hard a race last time.
Aarons Day got off the mark for the first time over fences when winning a handicap chase (2m 4 ½ f) at Naas in January. Was just behind the leaders when taking a heavy fall three out in a Grade 3 back at that venue last month. Drop back in trip is a concern but he’s fairly treated and has each way claims.
Mount Brown looks interesting on his handicap chase debut for a yard that won this in 2015. The 6-year-old has had just three starts over the larger obstacles and a mark of 118 looks workable.
Plumpton
BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4:15)
Top weight Aucunrisque has to give plenty of weight to his rivals, but connections have booked Caoilin Quinn to take a handy 5lb and the Betfair Hurdle winner has the class to go close in this company.
Luttrell Lad was back to form on just his second start for Tom Lacey when an 6 ½ length 8th of 24 to Faivoir in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Might need more of a stamina test these days but in with a chance for a yard among the winners.
Blueking D’Oroux looked ahead of his mark when winning a valuable juvenile handicap hurdle at Ascot just 7-days ago. Must be respected under a 7lb penalty provided he handles the quick turnaround.
Teddy Blue lurks on a winnable mark albeit he’s becoming frustrating. The 5-year-old was a disappointing 100/30 favourite for the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso last time but prior to that was a 12 length 3rd of 16 to Aucunrisque in the Betfair Hurdle. He get’s 14lb pull in the weights with the winner today and must be considered.
Ffos Las
3As Leisure “West Wales National” Handicap Chase (Class) (3:25)
Amateur bids for a race hat trick and can race off the same mark as when winning 12 months ago. Granted the ground will be slightly softer than it has been for his last two wins in the race, but he must have a good chance of winning once more.
Super Survivor who impressed me when winning at Chepstow on his second start over fences in December didn’t build on that performance when a well beaten 3rd of 10 at Uttoxeter last month. Looked in need of further than 3m at Uttoxeter and given that was his first start for 11 weeks perhaps just needed the run more than market expected.
Equus Dreamer got off the mark over fences for the first time at the sixth attempt when successful at Haydock 18-days ago. Has 5lb rise to contend with but the 8-year-old proved his stamina for 3m 4f last time and is in the mix once more.
Cork
While all eyes are rightly on Fairyhouse there’s also a valuable handicap hurdle at Cork.
Bar One Racing Price Boosts Everyday Easter Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4:05)
Last time out winners Spillane’s Tower and L’yser dominate the early bird betting and rightly so. The first named looked an exciting prospect when winning a Naas maiden hurdle (2m 3f) 57-days ago. Provided the ground doesn’t dry out too much between he’s got plenty of scope for improvement on handicap debut. L’yser gained a second success over hurdles when winning a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in February. He’s up 9lb for that win but is going the right way and shouldn’t be far away.
Flying Scotsman ran a bit better than his 4 ¾ length 5th of 19 at Gowran Park last time suggests. He was still bang there at the last but a mistake there saw him fade on the run in. It was heavy ground that day and better ground will suit. There’s a handicap hurdle in him off his present mark but he does face a couple of potential improvers here.
Watch The Weather won over C&D handicap hurdle in August and followed up four days later at Wexford. He was only beaten a short head in a similar race at Down Royal in November, from 3lb lower. Never got involved from the rear at Fairyhouse (soft) in December. However, he isn’t one to rule out returning from a short break back on better ground.
Betting Advice:
Fairyhouse
2:35 – Princess Zoe – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:20 – Aarons Day – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Plumpton
4:15 – Teddy Blue – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Bet365
Ffos Las
3:25 – Amateur – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cork
4:05 – Flying Scotsman – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John