Ollie Vaar ran a nice race for us earlier, but unfortunately he finished 4th and out of the money. He was a lot more clued up than on debut and I thought he looked booked for 3rd as they approached the second last. However, he was just done for toe by the King horse and he faded in the final furlong. He is definitely a horse to keep an eye on, and he could be worth backing if upped in trip when sent handicapping. Sunday sees the best jumps card of the year so far taking place at Fairyhouse, and you can read my thoughts below.
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| Dinaria Des Obeaux gets a huge amount of weight from her rivals. |
RACE 1
A Grade 3 2 mile Juvenile Hurdle gets the action started at Fairyhouse and at first glance this looks a match between Espoir D’Allen for JP McManus and Gavin Cromwell and Mitchouka for Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott. The former is unbeaten in two hurdle starts and he won both in the manner of a very talented horse. Mitchouka won his last two by a combined total of 25L and he is another horse with bags of potential.
However, the bookies haven’t missed either of those and at a much bigger price perhaps Khudha can play the role of party pooper. This son of Helmet was last seen hacking up in a soft ground 12f handicap on the level at the Curragh for Johnny Murtagh. That run induced Barry Connell into getting the chequebook out and he is an interesting recruit to hurdles. If he takes to the game he could go well and at odds of 20/1 he is suggested as a value alternative to the top two in the market.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: KHUDHA E/W @ 20/1
RACE 2
The first of three Grade 1s on Sunday at Fairyhouse is the Royal Bond Novice hurdle and a small but select field of seven go to post. Mengli Khan has been put in as favourite at 13/8 after his impressive Grade 3 win at Navan last time out. However, he has a lot more on his plate here and JP McManus holds a strong hand with three runners that all look to hold realistic chances.
Barry Geraghty has opted for La Richebourg and while he might be the one to be on come March and April, the soft ground is an unknown for him and he might not be seen to best effect. Red Jack looks a decent price at 8/1 but the form of his hurdle wins looks suspect. He holds La Richebourg on their meeting in a soft ground bumper at Naas last season.
The biggest priced horse of the McManus trio is Early Doors and at odds of 12/1 it could pay to side with him. Joseph O’Brien’s son of Soldier Of Fortune is unbeaten in two starts over timber and he took the scalp of Meri Devie in a Grade 3 at Naas last time. He is guaranteed to go on the ground, Mark Walsh is riding out of his skin and at odds of 12/1 I think he is worth chancing each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: EARLY DOORS E/W @ 12/1 NAP
RACE 3
I have tipped up a horse for this Grade 1 for Mybettingbonus and you can find out my fancy by clicking here.
RACE 4
A maximum field of 20 horses will go to post in this 2 mile Grade A handicap and it looks a perilous puzzle to solve. Some classy types take their chances, including the likes of Ivanovich Gorbatov, Ted Veale and Meri Devie. Ben Dundee is the 4/1 favourite after his impressive win last time but he has been raised 10lb for that victory and there is better value to be found elsewhere. At an absolutely monstrous price perhaps Agent Boru can go well from the foot of the weights for local trainer Tom Gibney.
This son of Brian Boru has yet to get his head in front in 5 maiden hurdle runs and he was well beaten on his handicap bow at Killarney. However, he probably wasn’t suited by the good ground that day and he has some decent form to his name on easy ground in maidens. He was 4th on his seasonal comeback here last month (20f sft) and he should be suited by a fast run race at 16f. Stakes should be kept small, but I think Agent Boru could outrun his odds of 66/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: AGENT BORU E/W @ 66/1
RACE 5
The last of the Grade 1s on Sunday is the Drinmore Novice Chase, a 20f contest that has attracted a field of 6 horses. Death Duty is a warm order to follow up his impressive win in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time and if he is in the same mood here he will be hard to beat. Elliott also runs 4yo filly Dinaria Des Obeaux and she is receiving a huge amount of weight from her male rivals. She will be carrying over a stone less than both Death Duty and Rathvinden and that could be a huge positive on such testing ground.
This Grade 3 hurdle winner has looked a natural since going chasing and she has won both her starts. She absolutely hosed up in a heavy ground Listed contest last time and she previously lowered the colours of the highly rated La Martalin. Trip, ground and track are all perfect for this fabulous filly and at odds of 4/1 she could give Death Duty plenty to think about.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: DINARIA DES OBEAUX @ 4/1
RACE 6
16 horses go to post in this Grade B 3m 5f handicap chase and, as ever in races of this type, small stakes at big odds is the approach to take. Stamina and an ability to handle bad ground are the credentials that will be needed to win a race like this and one horse that ticks both those boxes is Undressed. Michael Hourigan’s 9yo son of Lost World bounced back to form with a good 3rd in the Cork National last time (28f sft) and judging by how he finished that race he should be suited by the extra furlong here.
He had generally been a consistent sort over fences but he was pulled up three times in a row after his last win at Limerick in a Novice Chase (22f hvy) last December. He could only manage 9th in this race last season off a mark of 116 when sent off at just 5/1 but the good to yielding ground was not to his liking. He is 7lb higher now, but he showed definite signs of a revival last time despite making some jumping errors and if he can cut those mistakes out he could run a big race at tasty odds.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: UNDRESSED E/W @ 28/1 NB
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