SHAMROCK Sat: Eyes turn to Fairyhouse on Saturday for a seven-race card, where the going is likely to be particularly testing.
⭕ An intriguing 2-mile juvenile hurdle (12:27pm) begins the day and all seven runners look to have potential to make into decent hurdlers. However, there was something about the way Willie Mullins’ Blood Destiny despatched his rivals on debut at Cork last month that hinted much better could be yet to come from this son of No Risk At All. He looked to get stronger the further he went there and shouldn’t be fazed by the heavy conditions at Fairyhouse. The second from that race has since come out and won too, giving the form a better look to it.
⭕ Next up is a 2m2½f mares’ maiden hurdle (1:02pm). This doesn’t look the strongest of events, despite the 20-strong field. Gordon Elliott runs two and both look of interest, but perhapsGaye Winnie is the one to focus on. She hasn’t been seen since finishing sixth in what was a strong maiden – first two went on to run respectably in Grade 1 and Listed company – at Punchestown in November and this is weaker.
⭕ In the following 3-mile handicap hurdle (1:37pm), top-weight Corbetts Cross could be up to defying his opening handicap mark of 130. It won’t be easy against some more experienced types, but Eugene O’Sullivan’s son of Gamut left the impression that he would improve further for this step up in trip after sluicing through the mud at Limerick when winning over 2m5f. He looks a good jumper, so shouldn’t be held back through inexperience and he could take another step up through the ranks here.
⭕ The fourth race is the feature on the card, a Grade A 2m1f handicap chase (2:12pm). A key form-line to this contest is probably the Grade B chase over this course and distance, won by Sil Ver Klass, in early December. Dancing On My Own finished in tenth there, with Cayd Boy, Mt Leinster and Fan De Blues all ahead of him, but it may be worth taking a chance Henry de Bromhead’s can return to some form. He was an excellent second off just two pounds lower at Aintree last spring and might have been in need of last month’s return. Heavy ground is fine.
⭕ A beginners’ chase (2:47pm) comes next, over the same trip of 2m1f. Noel Meade’s Highland Charge put in a decent round of jumping on chase debut here at Fairyhouse last month where he ran into the highly-touted El Fabiolo. Highland Charge tired late on there and looked to be in need of the run, so he could well come forward from that. He might offer a bit of value against likely favourite Flame Bearer.
⭕ Race six is a 2m5½f novice chase (3:22pm). There was plenty to like about the performance of Thomas Gibney’s Must Be Obeyed at Punchestown recently, where she toughed it out to win from some well-regarded rivals in Shantreusse and Mahler Mission. That came on heavy ground over a slightly longer trip, so you can expect her to be ridden prominently again by Darragh O’Keeffe, and if getting into a good rhythm she could be hard to peg back.
⭕ The 3.57pm is the concluding bumper over 2 miles, and this is a race where Willie Mullins has chosen to unleash some top horses in recent years, including Stattler and Tornado Flyer. That makes his debutant, Westport Cove, of particular interest and this son of Muhtathir can make a winning introduction.
