Grade 2 Mares Chase 2m. 4f. 55yds
Dinoblue (Mark Walsh) won the mares chase at Cheltenham and has been in great form at home since. The ground will be fine for her and should be hard to beat.
Allegorie De Vassy (Paul) was possible beaten when she fell at the last in the mares chase when a length behind Dinoblue. She will find it difficult to turn the tables here.
Listed Handicap Chase 2m. 4f. 55yds
Blizzard Of Oz (J J Slevin) is in good shape but has his fair share of weight for a relatively inexperienced handicap chaser.
Zenta (Aidan Kelly) was third at Fairyhouse last time and has her chance.
Sir Argus (Brian Hayes) is hard to fancy on recent form and needs to improve a lot to be up to this standard.
Western Diego (Sean O’Keeffe) likes this track and goes on the ground. He has an each-way chance.
Lisnagar Fortune (Danny) has not been as good over fences as we thought he would be. However, he likes this track and has a nice handicap mark.
Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle 2m. 4f. 140yds
Belloccio (Rachael Blackmore) likes going right-handed and will go on the ground.
Final Demand (Paul) was third in the Turners at Cheltenham and has nearly five lengths to make up on The Yellow Clay who finished second. We think he has every chance of reversing the form. He gained a lot of experience at Cheltenham and that will be of huge benefit.
Funiculi Funicula (Danny) is a horse we like a lot. He was third at Aintree last time and is improving all the time. He has a great each-way chance and is certainly one to follow next season.
Champion Hurdle 2m. 45yds
State Man (Paul) has won this race for the last two years and hopefully will make it three-in-a-row. He was going to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham when he uncharacteristically fell at the last. He goes into this in great order and should take beating.
Kargese (Danny) is a good mare who won the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. She will appreciate the likely strong gallop and is well entitled to take her chance.
Novice Hurdle 2m. 45yds
Runcok (Paul) is a course and distance winner and the form of the race he was fifth in at Fairyhouse last time looks good. He has shown huge improvement since going over hurdles and we have been very happy with his recent homework.
Bumper 2m. 2f. 181yds
Eclipse Chaser (Charlie Mullins) is probably more a country bumper horse but we’ll see how he gets on here.
King Rasko Grey (Jody) hasn’t run since finishing fourth on his debut at this festival last year. We think he’s top-drawer and is one to follow.
