Sunday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 11:55-3:40p.m. Carlisle N/H 6 Races 12:35-3:20p.m Leicester Abandoned Southwell Abandoned Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
ACHNAMARA 12/1 Southwell 1:10 Much better on the level than over hurdles. Market interest from his shrewd yard would be very interesting. MAGICAL MAGGIE 11/2 Southwell 2:20 Whizz Kid is much the best of these on form but 2m without hurdles might just test his stamina and the selection looks better value.
Encanto Bruno 3/1 - Fy'house 1.25. Has been well touted from early In his racing career and proved those thoughts to be correct when easily winning at Cheltenham at the October meeting. He will likely get on with it up front and I think he will be too strong in the finish to be caught, although many think the ground is cause for concern, I am hopeful it isn't. Found A Fifty 9/4 - Fy'house 2.00. Looked a revelation on Chase debut at Down Royal and for a stable that targets this race almost every year with their better ones. Again, right handed track and front runner who may be able to do enough on the front end to have the race in control by the end. Good luck
A few picks at Fairyhouse: 12.55 Minella Crooner - unexposed on handicap debut and has some really smart form to his name which makes an opening mark of 144 look lenient 1.25 Fascile Mode e/w - another from that Cheltenham Champion Bumper that is working out so well (finished just behind Encanto Bruno) and showed he had a real engine on hurdles debut at Punchestown, bolting up despite showing plenty of greenness. A fascinating runner from a smaller yard who can outrun big odds in this 2.00 Letsbeclearaboutit - has looked top class in two chases thus far and can continue his winning run here
Fairyhouse 11,55 Bonnie Kellie 13/2 12,55 Small bet Screaming Colours 40/1 e/w WH five places, 33/1 sky six places 15,10 The Model Kingdom 9/2 bet365, 4/1 others
There's no comparison between the racing at Fairyhouse and Carlisle. Regardless of all the non-runners, Carlisle offers very poor racing IMHO. On the other hand, Fairyhouse has 3 Grade-1, 1 Grade-3, and 2-Listed races on its excellent card. One I hope will run well is in the Bumper finalé at (15:40), a Pro/Am event over 2m on soft ground, is the Cokonto gelding. Bleu De Vassy. Mr H C Swan (5) rides for the Gordon Elliott yard. 6/1 (SkyBet/BetUK) best price at time of writing.
It didn't look an overly strong renewal of the Royal Bond on paper and I don't think we saw another Marine Nationale there - they finished in a bit of a heap didn't they?
Wow seriously good performance from I Am Maximus - I thought he would be done for speed over this much shorter trip but he has sprinted away from them. That will be his last novice chase though - perhaps an eye on the Gold Cup? Letsbeclearaboutit looks a bridle horse - went from cruising to finding nothing in a matter of strides.
Just about the only realistic opposition to Constitution Hill, Impaire Et Passe will need to smash these to justify talk of the Champion Hurdle
Bruno definitely needs a quicker surface. Was tucked away like they hoped he'd get through it but folded very tamely at the business end. Can't fault them for trying I suppose when most wrap them in wool. Found a Fifty was better at least but bumped into an unfancied Mullins runner who had form over shorter trips so the ground perhaps helped draw that ones stamina out. Impaire Et Passe just beaten as well so maybe not the superstar that has been touted as either, unless he needed the run.
