The Irish horse racing broadcaster offers his selections for this weekend’s action at Fairyhouse on Saturday and Navan on Sunday.
SATURDAY
The most interesting race of the entire weekend in Ireland is the very first one, and Fairyhouse’s opening beginners chase at 11:30 on Saturday is certainly not to be missed.
Willie Mullins has made no secret of the fact that he sees Majborough as an outstanding chasing prospect but the champion trainer is certainly not making life easy for the Triumph Hurdle hero on his initial foray by pitching smart due Tullyhill and Asian Master in against the youngster. The early skirmishes will be interesting, and with Tullyhill’s point-to-point background and forward-going style it would be no surprise were Paul Townend to play “catch me if you can” with his stable-companion.
Whatever Majborough’s fate, owner JP McManus ought to be on the mark in the juvenile hurdle at 12:30 courtesy of BEYOND YOUR DREAMS. A well-backed winner on the level at the Listowel festival, this mare has shaped well on both starts over jumps so far and a reproduction of her latest second to Total Look at Navan is likely to suffice.
In the handicap hurdle at 13:02 ARCH ENEMY has to be of major interest as she switches codes. Last seen bagging a valuable flat contest at Leopardstown in October, Paddy Magee’s tough flag-bearer is surely up to landing a race of this nature off a mark of 96 provided she can jump adequately.
Later on the card PORTARLINGTON can complete the hat-trick in the second division of the 80-102 handicap hurdle. Ian Donoghue has done well with the five year-old, who is now reunited with Josh Williamson as he reverts to the smaller obstacles after landing a beginners’ chase under the trainer’s brother Keith at Tramore last month.
SUNDAY
On Sunday at Navan keep an eye on SOLO FLIGHT in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 12:35. John McConnell’s gelding lacks a recent outing but he remains of definite interest off a mark of 102 having found only one too good when heavily backed on his last outing at Sligo in June.
The other one to appeal on the Proudstown Park card is BILLY LEE SWAGGER in the 3m1f handicap hurdle which follows. This five-year-old has turned in a succession of good efforts in defeat since gaining his only win to date at Punchestown just under a year ago and now has Tiernan Power-Roche’s valuable 7lb claim to help his cause.
