Fairyhouse holds its first National Hunt card of the new season on Saturday. And it is fairly high on quality and should provide plenty of useful pointers for the weeks and months ahead.

Action gets under way at 2.10 with a Mares Maiden Hurdle. Noel Meade’s Style Of Campile had some very decent Bumper form before pulling up injured on her hurdling bow at Bellewstown. If she can rediscover her old form she can go close, but preference on this occasion would be for Galianna. Not only because the Pat Flynn trained daughter of Galileo has more experience over jumps, but secondly because JP McManus saw enough potential in the mare to buy her.

The second race is a Maiden hurdle for geldings. Father Shine from the Michael Fitzsimons yard boasts a decent level of form, as does Tony Martin’s First Morning and Soldier Bay out of Robbie Hennessey’s never runs a bad race. They may all have to chase home Not For Converting. Willie Mullins gives his son Paddy a rare mount over hurdles and that might be a tip in itself.

Clancy Strand has been there or thereabouts on all his recent outings and – providing he handles what will be more testing conditions than on his last outing – should take all the beating in the 3.15 while Ahorsecalledmolly is on the upgrade having ran a very decent race behind the very talented Realt Dubh and can claim the 3.50.

As is the norm, the card ends with a quiet interesting looking Bumper. Michael Halford doesn’t have many runners in National Hunt and his representative here, Cebuano has been admirably consistent while Dessie Hughes’ Datokepe looks a decent sort and Katie Walsh is an interesting booking. Willie Mullins’ Des Res is bound to come on a good bit from what was a disappointing enough first run in Kilbeggan. Though the most significant happening of all might be that of Noel Meade sending out his first runner for Gigginstown House Stud, Joe Smooth.

So, in conclusion The Guvnor would say to ‘Try These Three:’
Galianna (2.10)
Ahorsecalledmolly (3.50)
Joe Smooth (5.30)



The Guvnor...