DAVY RUSSELL blog: Fairyhouse / Cheltenham Saturday

I suppose the obvious starting point would be with Teahupoo who put up a really nice performance to win the Galmoy Hurdle in Gowran on Thursday.

Listen, he did it well but is going to meet classier horses in Cheltenham so will need to step up again. He is a talented young horse though heading the right way.

As for the Thyestes Chase, all of Gordon’s ran well, I guess they just bumped into a classy horse in Carefully Selected who was able to carry all that weight.

Onto the weekend’s action and I’m in Fairyhouse on Saturday before travelling to Naas on Sunday. There is also the cracking nine-race card in Cheltenham on Saturday where we send over Delta Work for the Cross Country…

SATURDAY

Fairyhouse

HALKA DU TABERT 2.11pm Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

First up I ride Kenny’s (Alexander) lovely mare Halka Du Tabert who was grand the last day in Naas on her hurdling debut and remains unbeaten. I’d say we’d have been a little disappointed in her back in November in her bumper which came in Naas too, but she left that well behind. This requires another big step forward with the likes of Willie’s two Ashroe Diamond and Saylavee, but she is smart with a bright future.

FOUND A FIFTY 2.46pm Maiden Hurdle

As I mentioned last week when this lad was a non-runner, there is no getting away from the fact that he disappointed us when getting beat in his bumper as he’d been a nice winner of his point-to-point. He just didn’t settle that day and was far too keen. I’m sure Found A Fifty will improve plenty for a hurdle and he’s done a fair bit at home in that department. He seems to settle far better with obstacles in his way and the hood helps him a fair bit too. He’s a really nice prospect but has to put it all together here. This looks a warm heat too with Parmenion looking an obvious danger.

MALTON GROOVE 3.21pm Maiden Hurdle

My final ride of the afternoon is Malton Groove who was pulled-up the last day here in Fairyhouse. I suppose we hope that he can return to the form that saw him finish a good fourth to Hiddenvalley Lake in Naas back in November. We’d be hoping to put a line through his last effort after he made a bad mistake at the first but he’s a little to prove now.

Cheltenham

12.40pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Delta Work (pictured below) is in grand form at home despite having missed a few engagements this campaign with the weather. We obviously know what he can do around this place and Rob (James) is a great pilot taking 7lbs off. All that said, this is no easy task as it’s a handicap and he has to give lumps of weight away. There isn’t much between horses in this discipline and the weight concession brings them even closer together.

1.20pm Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase

A fascinating renewal of this rescheduled Grade One and a few more are having a go this week with the field up to six runners. It remains an intriguing clash between the reigning two mile champion and the up and coming star. Edwardstone continues to surprise me and who knows the ceiling of his ability. It promises to be a good watch and who knows what the Energumene team will do when it comes to tactics. They sat in last year in the Champion Chase but were mighty aggressive in Ascot before that. Everyone is billing it as a two horse race but don’t rule out the others. On ratings, they’ve no chance. But, it doesn’t always work like that and if everything goes right for them the likes of Editeur Du Gite and Amarillo Sky may easily mix it with the best.

2.25pm Cotswold Chase

Another cracker with Protektorat taking on the Grand National winner Noble Yeats. I was mighty impressed by Protektorat (pictured below) the last day in Haydock and he will take some beating. That said Noble Yeats was great in the Many Clouds too. It promises to be a cracker.

3.00pm Cleeve Hurdle

I’d say that Paisley Park (pictured below) is the one we all have to beat in the Stayers Hurdle come March, let alone here. He’s been in grand form this season and will take some stopping here. Listen, he never seems to do it the easy way and may come off the bridle a fair way out, but he knows where the winning line is here.

Good Luck
Davy

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