*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
14:05 FAIRYHOUSE – MARVAL FUN
We kick-off Irish National day at Fairyhouse with a 2-mile Handicap Hurdle where Tony Martin can strike with MARVAL FUN under Bryan Cooper. The daughter of Masked Marval has plenty of experience over hurdles and previously won nicely at Gowran Park last November. Her recent course and distance second earlier this month was a good effort, especially considering she didn’t get the clearest of runs between the last two hurdles and was only beaten a neck at the finish.
She looks a solid each-way player for a stable who has history in this race following success with Nearest The Pin in 2011 and Dollar And A Dream in 2016. Elsewhere, any market support for Golf Marin, also trained by Tony Martin would be interesting with this horse one of three in the field for JP McManus. Mark Walsh has decided to ride Naas winner Better Times Ahead, while the lightly raced Vadaly for Willie Mullins looks a very intriguing contender on her handicap debut.
14:40 FAIRYHOUSE – ICARE ALLEN (Next Best)
ICARE ALLEN caught my eye when winning stylishly at Leopardstown on his Irish debut over Christmas and this race looks a good opportunity for him to return to winning ways after his visit to Cheltenham last month. He wasn’t disgraced in the Triumph Hurdle having finished an excellent fourth to stable-mate Vauban with Lunar Power further behind in eighth place for Noel Meade.
The son of Cokoriko stands-out on official ratings and has previous course experience after his Grade 3 juvenile victory back in February. Britzka can only improve from his run in the Fred Winter with stable-mate Iberique Du Seuil running well in seventh place behind Brazil. Elsewhere, Tom Cooper runs French import Garrybello while it would be remiss to rule out Innatendue for John McConnell.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
15:50 FAIRYHOUSE – THEDEVILSCOACHMAN
This looks a good renewal of the 2-mile 4-furlong Grade 2 Hurdle where THEDEVILSCOACHMAN can secure victory for Noel Meade and JP McManus. Mark Walsh remains faithful to the six-year-old with both Darasso and Gars De Sceaux also racing in McManus’ green and gold silks. This horse doesn’t have too many miles on the clock, securing five-victories in just nine-career starts which included two wins as a novice last season.
The son of Elusive Pimpernel reverted back to hurdles at Navan in February and battled to victory when stepping up in trip on that occasion. The form of that race has some depth with Commander Of Fleet and Ashdale Bob finishing first and third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, while Ronald Pump subsequently finished second in the Leinster National while Longhouse Poet was sixth in the Aintree National.
The ever-improving Flame Bearer looks his biggest danger with Pat Doyle’s runner looking for his fourth straight victory following two wins here at Fairyhouse and one at Naas at the end of February. He showed his battling qualities under Jack Doyle when scoring here last month and a step-up in trip shouldn’t be an issue. This should be a truly run race with plenty of forward runners in the contest which will set things up nicely for Thedevilscoachman to score in similar fashion to his Navan victory.
16:20 FAIRYHOUSE – JANIDIL (NAP)
It’s hard to look beyond JANIDIL in the Grade 2 Devenish Chase with Mark Walsh and JP McManus yet again holding a strong hand this Easter Monday. He’s the highest rated of the Willie Mullins runners and looks the one to beat on the form of his four starts this season. His two second-placed efforts behind Allaho in the John Durkan and Ryanair Chase are rock solid form, while he wasn’t disgraced in both the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in December and February.
This ground and trip are ideal, and he’ll be played late by Walsh to secure another victory here at Fairyhouse following his success in the Grade 1 Novice Chase last year. Easy Game and Castlegrace Paddy are back having finished first and second last year while Paul Townend takes the ride on Blackbow following his confidence boosting win at Clonmel last month. In summary, Janidil has the class and can play a waiting game before striking late to secure a much deserved win this season.
17:00 FAIRYHOUSE – FARCLAS
Noble Yeats became the first seven-year-old to win the Aintree National Grand since Bogskar in 1940 and only one horse, Our Duke (2017) has carried over 11-stone to victory in the Irish Grand National since Commanche Court’s success at the turn of the century. Stats are there to be broken and there are plenty of horses with a touch of class at the top end of the weights for our big one this Monday afternoon.
Gaillard Du Mesnil is clearly one of those horses with Willie Mullins’ runner still a novice and maiden over fences after just four-starts since starting his chasing career last December. However, his form looks strong and runs with a similar profile to Burrows Saint, who was also a six-year-old when winning this race for the Closutton team in 2019. Elsewhere, last year’s second and third, Run Wild Fred and Enjoy D’allen both return and race just nine-days after early exits at Aintree.
The horse I like here is FARCLAS for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown who comes here fresh having not raced since finishing second to Run Wild Fred in the Troytown last November. The 2018 Triumph Hurdle hero has some excellent chase form in the book, which also includes his second at Cheltenham last year and his fifth-place finish to Minella Times in the Aintree National. He looks nicely handicapped with Shane Fitzgerald taking off 5Ibs with this trip also looking perfect for a big run.
Fairyhouse Tips:
14:05 FAIRYHOUSE – MARVAL FUN
14:40 FAIRYHOUSE – ICARE ALLEN (NB)
15:50 FAIRYHOUSE – THEDEVILSCOACHMAN
16:20 FAIRYHOUSE – JANIDIL (NAP)
17:00 FAIRYHOUSE – FARCLAS
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- Horse Racing News: Honeysuckle & Constitution Hill set for Punchestown clash in Paddy Power Champion Hurdle
- Irish Grand National favourites 2022: Paddy’s top horses for Fairyhouse marathon
- When is the 2023 Cheltenham Festival? Next year’s dates for your diary
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
