There’s plenty of NH racing again tomorrow - but as with today, it’s a case of quantity over quality…
There’s little of interest at the 3 UK meetings - and whilst things are a bit better at Cork, if that was as good as it got, I’d be having a day off !
Fortunately, it’s not - as there are some decent races taking place at Fairyhouse.
Somewhat bizarrely, the 8 race card is comprised completely of novice events - though 4 of them are graded conditions events…
They make up 4 of the 5 races that will be shown on RTE: and whilst the other one is a handicap - and therefore should be more attractive from a betting perspective - it looks a bit of a minefield, so I’ve left it alone !
Fairyhouse
2:50
This race looks most likely to rest between Master McShee, Echoes in Rain and Thedevilscoachman - which is a bit of a shame, as they are the top 3 in the betting ! Master McShee is potentially the most interesting.
He finished runner up to Appreciate It on his hurdling debut at Cork in November.
He was only beaten 2 and a half lengths that day, despite starting at 50/1 !
No other horse this season, has managed to get that close to Appreciate It - and Master McShee showed it was no fluke, by winning his next 2.
He was sent off at just 8/1, to exact revenge on Appreciate It, when the pair clashed again in a grade 1 event at the Dublin Racing festival in February.
However, he finished well beaten that day - and it subsequently transpired that he had bled.
That is obviously a worry - but provided there is no repeat tomorrow, he looks the one to beat.
Thedevilscoachman was beaten 20 lengths by Appreciate It, in a grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas.
That was a little disappointing - but he has bounced back and won his next 2.
On a line through Appreciate It, he is held by Master McShee - but things may not be quite that straightforward…
Echoes in Rain is the third one of the big 3.
She’s a head strong mare, who until last time, had always insisted on leading in her races.
She consented to follow Razzle Dazzle Love, in her most recent race at Naas - and that worked out nicely, as she took over the running at the second last and then cantered clear.
The form of that race was given a massive boost, when the runner up, Belfast Banter, won the country hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.
In truth, it’s hard to equate the form of Echoes in Rain with that of Master McShee and Thedevilscoachman - but I suspect she will give them a good race.
Most of the others are either held by the market leaders, or simply don’t look good enough.
The one possible exception is Grand Bornand.
He was well beaten by Thedevilscoachman on his Irish debut - but was sent off at 4/7 that day.
Clearly better was expected - and he has run well in his 2 subsequent races (winning one and finishing runner up in the other).
It wouldn’t be the greatest of shocked if he got much closer to Thedevilscoachman tomorrow…
3:20
As a grade 1 mares novice hurdle race, it’s maybe not too surprising that most of the main protagonists for this race, ran last time in the grade 2 mares novice hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.
That race was won by Telmesomethinggirl, with Skyace doing best of those who compete in tomorrows contest.
She finished fourth: with Glens of Antrim, sixth; Roseys Hollow seventh, Gauloise, eleventh and Hook up twelfth.
It’s hard to see why any of those who finished behind Skyace should reverse the form - particularly as she is better off at the weights with most of them.
The question is whether that form will be good enough to win tomorrow…
Telmesomethinggirl is trained by Henry de Bromhead - and he is represented in tomorrows race by Atlantic Fairy.
She finished second to Master McShee on her hurdling debut at Cork in December (look out for clues in the previous race !) - but has won her 2 subsequent races.
Interestingly, Global Equity, has been beaten by Skyace, Roseys Hollow, Gauloise and Atlantic Fairy, in 4 of her races this season - and collateral form lines through her, suggest that Skyace is the best of the 4.
Things are rarely that simply - with drying ground and tough races at Cheltenham to take into consideration.
All the same, it is certainly worth bearing in mind, as Skyace may well be under-estimated in the betting, due to her less fashionable connections…
3:50
It’s not too surprising to see Gentlemansgame heading the early market for this…
He was a real eye catcher last time, when runner up to Gallard de Mesnil at the Dublin Racing festival, on only his second outing over hurdles.
On the back of that run, he was prominent in the ante-post market for the Albert Bartlet at the Cheltenham festival - but connections said that race would be too much for him at this stage of his career - and that he would run at either Fairyhouse or Punchestown.
And here he is !
He certainly looks the one to beat - though he faces a few potentially useful rivals.
Chief amongst them is Grand Paradis.
He only managed to finish fourth on his hurdling debut at Naas in January - but has won his 2 subsequent starts in impressive fashion.
He could be very good.
Egality Mans could also be very good.
He too was beaten on his hurdling debut - but made no mistake next time, when winning at Naas in February.
He wasn’t as impressive as Grand Paradis - but he has endless scope for improvement.
It’ll be a little surprising if the race isn’t won by one of the 3 mentioned.
However, Ashdale Bob is quite an interesting outsider - if he can bounce back to form.
He looked good when winning a grade 2 at Navan in December - but then fell at the second in his next run at Naas.
He ran OK at Leopardstown, behind Gallard de Mesnil (and Gentlemansgame), when possibly finding the trip too far.
His cause tomorrow isn’t helped by the fact he has to shoulder a 5lb penalty - but even so, he looks a little over-priced at the early 14/1.
5:00
The second grade 1 on the card, looks like being a cracking contest.
Energumene was an odds on favourite for the race in the ante-post lists - but he’s not been declared and as a consequence, the race has a far more open look.
Asterion Forlonge has been installed a relatively short priced favourite, back running right handed after a highly creditable third place finish in the Marsh chase at the Cheltenham festival.
That was a good effort - building nicely on his previous fourth to Monkfish at the Dublin Racing festival - and helping to erase the memory of his 2 earlier falls.
He was the best of these over hurdles - so if he can perform to that level over fences, he is very much the one to beat.
That said, based on his run behind Monkfish, he will have his work cut out to beat Andy Dufresne.
He finished a length in front of Asterion Forlonge that day - suggesting there isn’t much between the pair.
It is possible that Asterion put in an improved performance last time at Cheltenham - but equally, it’s possible that a hard race that day will have left it mark…
Franco de Port also ran at Cheltenham - but he was a big disappointment in the Arkle.
He wasn’t expected to beat Shishkin that day - but he jumped poorly and finished a well beaten last.
On that form, he has no chance - but on the form of his 2 previous runs: when second to Energumene and when winning a grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas: he has a definite chance.
He is stepping up to 2m4f over fences for the first time tomorrow - but that may well bring about some improvement.
It will interesting if he does, as he is already the highest rated horse in the race, on official rankings.
Scarlet and Dove has some fair form in mares races - and the 7lb sex allowance she receives, puts her right in the mix.
Whilst Cedarwood Road was a decent novice hurdler last season, and is gradually finding his form over fences.
It would be no surprise to see both of them run well.
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