DAVY RUSSELL: Fairyhouse Sunday

I was pleased to see Party Central win the Listed Mares Bumper on Saturday’s card. I thought she looked the best bet on Saturday’s card and seemed to win it with a fair bit up her sleeve. If anything, the ground was getting a little faster on Saturday, so I’m bearing that in mind for Sunday’s excellent card which features two Grade 1’s ….

SUNDAY

FAIRYHOUSE

2.20 Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle

A really tough handicap hurdle with many that are arriving in good form. The stable have a couple in with decent chances – Papal Lodge (pictured below) who bids for the hat-trick after wins at Punchestown and Down Royal. He’s up another 7lb but seems to be going the right way. Robinstown is up in distance but stayed on nicely in Navan the last day and seemed to cope with the longer trip in his point days.

2.50 Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Call Me Lyreen by-passed Cheltenham and should come into this a fresh horse after a break. Looking back he was pitched in at the deep end in a Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas won by none other than Appreciate It. There’s nothing of that calibre today and he might give hat-trick seeking Thedevilscoachman a decent test.

3.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (Grade 1)

The first of the Grade 1’s and it’s attracted a decent 14-strong field. I thought it looked wide open but Skyace (pictured below) has caught my eye. She’s enjoying a great season and it was a fine effort at Cheltenham when she finished fourth to Telmesomethinggirl in the Dawn Run (now Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle). She holds a few of them here on that form and if none the worse for that effort can get a piece of this.

3.50 Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Grand Paradis (pictured below) arrives in great form for the stable but I’d just have to be a little worried about the ground now. It’s really a case of the more testing the better with him so keep an eye on whether there is any rain about. He was really good when winning the Michael Purcell Memorial in Thurles but that came on heavy. The obvious danger is Gentlemansgame whose five length second to Gaillard Du Mesnil in a Grade 1 in February reads very well.

5.00 Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase (Grade 1)

I’m sticking with Andy Dufresne with him back on a right-handed track. There was no disgrace in his defeat to Monkish and Latest Exhibition in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Monkfish followed up at Cheltenham and Latest Exhibition is favourite for Monday’s Irish Grand National. Andy Dufresne should be a fresh horse for this whereas main danger Asterion Forlonge is back after a huge effort at Cheltenham where he looked the winner two out in the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

Best Wishes
Davy

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