Fairyhouse Easter Festival

[Old Vic]

Powers Gold Cup field: Buckers Bridge, Dedigout, Mikael D'Haguenet, Mount Benbulben, Oscars Well, Realt Mor.

Willie Mullins fields three in @Fairyhouse's first Grade 1 mares' novice hurdle on Sunday. Annie Power, Glens Melody and Zuzka.

Gigginstown have five in #IrishNational, JP McManus two, Alan and Ann Potts have also got two as does Oliver McKiernan's Redgap Partnership

[Old Vic]

FAIRYHOUSE, Sunday, 31st March 2013 Listing generated on 29-MAR-13 at 10:52
(2:25) 62B Irish Stallion Farms EBF(Mares)Nov.H'dle (Grade 1) €58,500.00 ( 2m 4f - 4yo+ )[MAX 25]
No Horse Owner Trainer Rider Wgt
1 Jennies Jewel(125) A.N. McIntyre (JPFahey) Ian McCarthy 11,07
2 Missunited(135) Mrs V.B. Hutch (MWinters) Barry Geraghty 11,07
3 Top Madam(130) Donal Coffey (DCoffey) Davy Condon(T) 11,07
4 Zuzka(139) Supreme Horse Racing Club (WPMullins) . 11,07
5 Annie Power(145) Mrs S Ricci (WPMullins) RWalsh 11,06
6 Glens Melody(130) Ms Fiona McStay (WPMullins) . 11,06

[Old Vic]

FAIRYHOUSE, Sunday, 31st March 2013 Listing generated on 29-MAR-13 at 10:52
(2:55) 62C Coolmore NH Sires Novice H'dle (Grade 2) €26,000.00 ( 2m 4f - 4yo+ )[MAX 25]
No Horse Owner Trainer Rider Wgt
1 Bright New Dawn(145) Gigginstown House Stud (DTHughes) Davy Russell 11,10
2 Anonis (GER)(129) Barry Connell (MsMMullins) Danny Mullins 11,05
3 Defy Logic(146) John P. McManus (PNolan) .(H) 11,05
4 Morning Assembly(130) Clipper Logistics Group Ltd (PAFahy) Bryan Cooper 11,05
5 Operating(122) Michael Buckley (MrsJHarrington) . 11,05
6 Pride ofthe Parish(130) Mrs Violet O'Leary (WPMullins) . 11,05
7 Sizing Gold(137) Alan & Ann Potts Partnership (Hde Bromhead) AELynch 11,05
8 Some Tikket K.S.Jones (DKWeld) Barry Geraghty 11,05
9 Mala Beach(132) C. Jones (GElliott) Davy Condon 11,04
10 Reine Angevine (FR)(130) Supreme Horse Racing Club (WPMullins) . 10,11

[Old Vic]

FAIRYHOUSE, Sunday, 31st March 2013 Listing generated on 29-MAR-13 at 10:57
(4:30) 62F Powers Gold Cup (Grade 1) €58,500.00 ( 2m 4f - 5yo+ )[MAX 20]
No Horse Owner Trainer Rider Wgt
1 Buckers Bridge(141) Ann & Alan Potts Partnership (Hde Bromhead) AELynch 11,10
2 Dedigout(147) Gigginstown House Stud (AJMartin) Davy Russell(T) 11,10
3 Mikael D'Haguenet (FR)(147) Mrs S Ricci (WPMullins) . 11,10
4 Mount Benbulben(150) Barry Connell (GElliott) Danny Mullins 11,10
5 Oscars Well(149) Molley Malone Syndicate (MrsJHarrington) .(T) 11,10
6 Realt Mor(141) Mrs P Sloan (GElliott) Davy Condon 11,10

[Lester]

Barry Geraghty

There’s nothing for me in Britain on Saturday but I’ve got a decent hand of rides at Fairyhouse on Sunday starting with MISSUNITED in the Grade*1*Irish Stallion Farms*EBF Mares Novice*Hurdle Championship Final (2.25).

She handles heavy ground well and having won on her last time over two at Limerick I’m pretty sure that the move up to two and a half is a point in her favour.

But I have plenty of respect for Annie Power – with a scorecard of six out of six and trained by Willie Mullins who wouldn’t!

I was delighted to get the call from Dermot Weld to ride SOME TIKKET in the two and a half mile Grade*2 Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle (2.55)

He might well be unbeaten in three starts having run green then run out on his debut in a Punchestown bumper last May but he’s been impressive in another and couldn’t have won any easier on his hurdle debut at Navan in the middle of March.

There’s no doubt that this is a quality field but there’s no telling how much potential this horse has – and he handled heavy ground last time.

In the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final (3.25) I ride WHAT’S HAPPENING, who performed well for Michael Hourigan last time when he was fourth in the Munster Hurdle and gave me a good feel when we won a two and a half mile hurdle at Listowel in September. Michael’s horses are in good order at present and I can see this move back to three miles suiting my lad.

[mayo]

Pat Keane Tips

Mikael D’Haguenet gets the nap to land a fascinating Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse tomorrow.
He is one of the most frustrating horses in training and some clumsy jumping has prevented him from fulfilling his undoubted potential over fences.

But he is still only a nine-year-old, his engine remains in full working order and, amazingly, is actually a good jumper, prone to the odd bout of madness.

The selection threw away yet another winning opportunity at Naas last month. He was cantering all over his rivals when stumbling at the back of the third last, slithered to a standstill and then ran on powerfully late to claim third behind Sweeney Tunes and Charlie’s Vic.

Dedigout and Mount Benbulben are two high-class and dangerous opponents, but Mikael D’Haguenet to finally deliver at the top level over fences is the prediction.

Willie Mullins trains Mikael D’Haguenet and his Annie Power is impossible to oppose in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship Final.

She displayed real quality when slamming Defy Logic and Don Cossack at Naas and this look an easier assignment, against her own sex.

Dessie Hughes’ Bright New Dawn is fancied to shrug off top weight in the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory And Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle.

He looked unsuited by the track when beating Mala Beach, now 4lbs better in, by three lengths at Thurles and Fairyhouse should prove much more his cup of tea.

Tommy Stack’s Alive Alive Oh gets the nap in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden at Cork this afternoon.

The daughter of Duke Of Marmalade enjoyed a good introduction at the Curragh in October, third behind Aidan O’Brien’s Magician and the subsequent winner, Jim Bolger’s Bunairgead.

Stack might also supply the answer to the featured Listed Cork Stakes with Cape Of Approval, stepping into this company for the first time, after winning three times in-a-row last season.

Aidan O’Brien’s Fortify is the choice in the Best Dressed Lady And Gent Maiden. He was a costly failure when no match for Jim Bolger’s Beyond Thankful at Roscommon in October, but an extra furlong and a half now should help.

Jason Maguire makes the trip across to Cork tomorrow to partner Roi Du Mee in the Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase and Gordon Elliott’s charge is the one to beat.

He’s had a fine campaign and there was much to admire in the way he beat Prince De Beauchene and Seabass at Fairyhouse on his latest appearance.

Courage, who was no match for the smart Djakadam at Limerick, faces nothing of that calibre in the Father’s Day Racing June 16th Maiden Hurdle and has to get the nod.

[Old Vic]

Brian O'Connor

The decision of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud team to divert Dedigout from the Irish National to tomorrow’s Powers Gold Cup can pay off in a race where jumping really can be the name of the game.

Along with the newly-promoted mares novice hurdle, the traditional Easter Sunday Fairyhouse highlight provides Grade One holiday action ahead of Monday’s National. What it doesn’t provide, though, is a field of sure-footed jumpers, with some of the principals having plenty to prove in terms of negotiating the obstacles.

Mikael D’Haguenet’s frailties were again obvious on his last start at Naas where a mishap at the third last robbed him of what seemed almost certain victory, considering he rallied to such effect he ended up beaten by less than eight lengths.

Mount Benbulben’s jumping has been ropey too, although he was good last time out at Thurles when ridden by Danny Mullins for the first time.

Oscars Well has also hit the deck during his novice campaign, although the form of his January second to Benefficient doesn’t look shabby since Cheltenham, and Realt Mor couldn’t get over the first fence intact on his last start at Fairyhouse.

In comparison, Buckers Bridge and Dedigout have been solid citizens although the latter made a mistake at Christmas that shook his confidence for a time. However, he looked right back to his best at Naas earlier this month when easily beating the National hopeful You Must Know Me. Testing ground conditions will suit the Dedigout ideally and he can provide Gigginstown with the perfect pre-National boost.

Major surprise
Willie Mullins has half of the six starters in the mares feature but there’s no doubting Annie Power’s status as the champion trainer’s number one. Unbeaten in six, Annie Power already features in some ante-post lists for next year’s Champion Hurdle. It will be a major surprise if she doesn’t maintain a perfect record.

A total of 10 line up for the Grade Two novice hurdle and victory for Annie Power will boost hopes in Defy Logic, one of two Tony McCoy mounts tomorrow, who chased home the mare on their last starts.

Preference, though, is for Sizing Gold who didn’t take up his Neptune option at Cheltenham but who is highly regarded by trainer Henry De Bromhead.

The novice handicap hurdle will be intensely competitive and a grind on heavy going will suit the lightly-weighted Miss Xian who beat Acapulco on her last start, and that horse has won since at Cork.

The Tullow Tank is named after Irish rugby international Seán O’Brien and is another that can show the merit of Annie Power’s Grade Two success at Naas. He finished well behind that day but he is ultimately a chasing type and the grind of a bumper on soft ground should be much more his cup-of-tea.

Cork begins its own Easter three-day festival today with an all-flat card but it will be all-jumps tomorrow when top jockey Jason Maguire travels from Britain to team up with Roi De Mee in the Grade Three Imperial Call Chase.

Roi Du Mee burst some bubbles in the Bobbyjo Chase last month and is currently on a career-high in terms of rating. Even topweight may not stop him here.

Chiltern Hills has had plenty chances and preference in the mares maiden is for the unexposed Sitcom who lost her rider at the very first obstacle on her jumping debut in the north.

The Listed Cork Stakes is the feature and the 2011 winner Inxile can secure a third course victory for Dandy Nicholls.

[Lester]

Irish indo

There may not be anything of quite the same quality as last year's Powers Gold Cup hero Flemenstar among tomorrow's six-strong line-up, but the Fairyhouse Grade One, nonetheless, promises to be yet another cracking affair.

Four deeply progressive recent winners will bid to plunder the €58,500 first prize and the two others aren't half-bad, either.

One is the mercurial Ruby Walsh-ridden Mikael D'Haguenet, a talented, but error-prone triple Grade One scorer that is charged with delivering Willie Mullins an elusive first success in this two-and-a-half-mile feature.

The other is last year's Irish Champion Hurdle runner-up Oscars Well. Successful in both of its first two completed starts over fences, Jessica Harrington's dual Grade One winner has come up just short on its two latest attempts at the highest level.

On both occasions, latterly when chasing home Cheltenham victor Benefficient in Leopardstown's Arkle, he stayed on at the death over two miles, giving the distinct impression that a return to this trip might suit. As such, Robbie Power's mount is feared, but it might be worth investing some faith in the less exposed contenders.

Henry de Bromhead relies on Buckers Bridge, beaten just once in five career starts here in December. He returned to form with a vengeance to out-battle Twinlight at Navan last month and is an honest sort that will relish the prevailing conditions.

The suspicion, though, is that, like Realt Mor, he might not be quite enough here. Realt Mor's handler Gordon Elliott also saddles Mount Benbulben.

Another precocious horse that has a tendency to jump erratically, Mount Benbulben, got its act together under Danny Mullins at Thurles last time.

Dedigout also returned to something close to its best at Naas three weeks ago. A Grade One novice hurdle winner at Punchestown last spring, Tony Martin's seven-year-old also obliged at this festival 12 months ago.

Running in the colours of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, he got his chasing career off to a good start at the Kildare venue in November and finished second to Arvika Ligeonniere here in the Drinmore, before turning in a couple of poor performances, including when fourth to Buckers Bridge in February. Since then, he bounced back to form at Naas, leaving Twinlight 18 lengths behind.

That margin may have been exaggerated by Twinlight's failure to stay, but it was still a markedly improved effort.

All told, Dedigout remains a horse of serious potential, so this is an opportunity for him to confirm as much under Davy Russell now.

In the inaugural Grade One Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle, Willie Mullins has half of the six runners.

Mick Winters' game Missunited is maybe most likely to thwart the champion trainer, but Annie Power is a formidable contender.

Unbeaten in six, Mullins' mare had Defy Logic and Don Cossack among some high-profile victims at Naas last time. If she reproduces that, she could win at her ease.

Her peerless rider Walsh is also trusted to collect on the nap selection Smart Money in the Gleesons Butchers Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Jim Culloty's charge didn't quite get home over further last time, so the drop to two miles here should suit.

The 10-runner Grade Two Coolmore Novice Hurdle is another brilliantly competitive affair on the first leg of the Co Meath venue's three-day Easter spread, with Paul Nolan's AP McCoy-ridden Defy Logic the one to beat.

However, Dessie Hughes' Bright New Dawn is just preferred, despite having to concede weight all round.

Fortuitous when JP McManus' Venture Capital crashed out with fatal consequences at Thurles a month ago, Bright New Dawn is a handsome horse with bundles of class.

He had previously found only the subsequent Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Champagne Fever too strong in a Leopardstown Grade One and the suspicion is that he can produce the improvement required to go in again here under Russell.

[Lester]

Irish eyes

The Fairyhouse Grand National festival has always been synonymous with Power! The whiskey firm sponsored the Grand National for years and still sponsor the Grade One chase on Sunday.

Good and all as that race is, it is Annie Power however that should ensure the name lives on in punters memories on Easter Sunday.

She was successful for this column on her last start against the geldings and now reverts back to mares' company for the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.

Given that we have previously flagged her up as mare who could become the first to win a Champion Hurdle since Flakey Dove back in 1994, she is the confident nap to take this Grade One event.

The horse Annie Power defeated on her last start, Defy Logic, is taken to land the next race on a fascinating card, the Grade Two Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontiers Novice Hurdle.

Tony McCoy takes the ride for the second time running. Although beaten by Annie Power last time out, McCoy nevertheless was wholeheartedly enthusiastic about the class of Defy Logic in the aftermath of the race.

He conceded however, that they merely came up against a mare with exceptional ability. Whilst there are plenty of decent novices in this event, Defy Logic has the highest official rating and appears nicely treated when you consider he does not carry the penalty that Bright New Dawn has to lumber for his Graded victory.

Therefore if he runs to his form, he wins this and consequently gets the 'next best' vote.

Elsewhere on a top-class card, one name that takes the eye in the bumper is Carriganog.

For any horse of Aidan O'Brien's to be bestowed with such a name, he must be special as Carriganog means so much to Aidan, his wife Ann-Marie and all of her family.

It was from here that her father, the legendary Joe Crowley trained. Ann-Marie became Champion Irish National Hunt trainer from this yard, as did Aidan, prior to his move to Ballydoyle.

When Aidan and Ann-Marie departed, her sister Frances took over the licence and trained 42 winners from Carriganog in her first season, before later becoming the first female trainer to win an Irish classic.

The O'Brien/Crowley breeding operation also named their successful stud Carriganog. Now on Sunday, the horse named Carriganog makes its debut, trained by Aidan for his wife Ann-Marie with their daughter Sarah on board.

If ever there was a name that meant so much to one family, this is the one so that's as good a tip as you're ever likely to get!

Nap: Annie Power 2.25 Fairyhouse

Next Best: Defy Logic 2.55 Fairyhouse