Fairyhouse Easter ‘Festival’ Meeting Review – March 22nd – 25th

Positives: Emmet Mullins is a talented young claimer but he gave Galant Ferns [WON Limerick 6/4/08 - 5/1] too much to do in the first of Saturday’s two bumpers. The 4yo mare was held up off a slow pace in a race that was dominated by Astute Approach and while she may not have won under more positive tactics, she would certainly have given the winner something to think about. Shirley Casper was one of the best bumper horses around last term when she placed in two championship events and her hurdles debut on her first outing in 11 months was eye-catching in Sunday’s Grade 3 mares’ race. The 7yo travelled smoothly into the race and looked the winner turning in before lack of fitness caught her out. Her move to Edward O’Grady’s stable can only be viewed as a positive with her former trainer Philip Fenton enduring a nightmare run all season. Enter The Indian landed the novice handicap hurdle narrowly from Northern Alliance with Follow The Plan and Boleybawn Quikstar filling the places. The front four pulled 9ls clear of the remainder and the form looks hot and it’s worth remembering Bob’s Pride won last year’s race before going on to Punchestown success. Nothing Horner Woods has done a racecourse thus far has suggested he’s anything other than a future star – the winning pointer ran a fine race when second in his maiden hurdle and will benefit from the experience. Royal County Star was a blatant non-stayer when second to Hear The Echo in the meeting’s feature but a less obvious runner that failed to get home was Maureen Danagher’s Ballycullen Boy who finished eighth. The 8yo showed up well until weakening four out and has come back from his winter break in good form as he showed when chasing home Cooldine before this. He may prove best at just short of 3 miles and the Galway Plate looks a likely target. Glenstal Abbey ran a good fifth for Aidan O’Brien in one of the hottest flat maidens of last season at Leopardstown and again showed plenty of ability on his first start in almost a year when fourth to Paco Jack in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle. He can only improve from this. It’s difficult to draw any encouragement from the 80l defeat suffered by Definate Spectacle in the Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle but he was similarly stuffed on his early starts last year before bouncing back to win a decent race at Cork over sticks. I’d expect the same improvement this year as he’s been hobdayed and it’s the flat where I’d look for him to strike as he’s dropped to a mark of 86 having won off 93 and 95 in the past. Kells Castle is no star but having 4 low grade jumps handicaps he’s a rare consistent type in this sort of grade. The 6yo showed up well in the 3m1f handicap chase on Monday before a lack of both stamina and race fitness caught him out. He’s likely to prove best around 2m4f on decent ground and has 15lbs in hand over fences on his current hurdles mark.

Negatives: The Fairyhouse executive deserve the biggest negative for a meeting that was disappointing overall. The close proximity of Cheltenham and the early Easter didn’t help but there was no need to dilute the fixture to 4 days and Monday’s card was one of the worst overall day’s racing I’ve seen for a big day in years and that’s not even to discuss the farce of the opening match between Kalderon and Earth Magic. Since chasing home De Valira, Catch Me and Sizing Europe at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, Rare Bob has been disappointing. He keeps finding ways to lose and placed for the fifth consecutive time in the 3m novice handicap hurdle. He’s certainly one to oppose if turning up at a short price in a weak maiden. Woodbine Willie travelled well in the Grade 2 novice hurdle only to find little. This isn’t the first time he’s promised more than he’s delivered and while he can’t be held responsible for his yard’s poor run of form, he always seems to go off a shorter price than he should. Big Zeb is a seriously talented horse but he seems to need to win his races on the bridle and the fact that he was out-battled by Conna Castle, who’s hardly the most resolute, was worrying. 2 wins from 11 starts is a poor return for a horse of his ability. Bouchard has never won a race of any nature and was well fancied before running a poor fifth in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle. He’s another who isn’t in love with winning but doesn’t mind reaching the frame.

Pointers: Leonard Whitmore may have a small string but he can train them. His stable stars Wishwillow Lord and Brave Right both made the frame in Tuesday’s big race and his runners are often underestimate in the betting. Wishwillow Lord could be a serious 2m chaser if he could get his jumping straightened out and if he hadn’t gotten into the butt of few in the Dan Moore, the 9yo may have given Schindlers Hunt a race. Paul Carberry may be the key as his record aboard the gelding reads:15111. The Irish staying novice hurdlers look a serious bunch and the frame-filling efforts of our runners in the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle was followed up by excellent efforts by Cooldine and Chasing Cars here. Next year’s novice chases should make for interesting viewing. Drunken Disorderly has produced some awful jumping performances this season but paradoxically he may need the minimum trip to show his best. His record over 17f or shorter reads:1211142.