Fairyhouse‘s two-day Winter Festival concludes on Sunday with an awesome eight-race card. There are three Grade 1s to look forward to and the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is the highlight. A high number of big race winners last season ran at this meeting so it could be a huge form pointer once again.
We’ve picked out four runners which could go on to stake a major claim at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Possible target: Triumph Hurdle
Willie Mullins won this race last year with the excellent Lossiemouth, who went on to win the Triumph Hurdle and the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He runs this French import here, who was victorious at the second time of asking at Compiegne for his previous connections. Currently 33-1 for the Triumph in March, a big win here would surely capitulate those odds.
Possible target: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Henry de Bromhead highlighted this horse in his stable tour as having star quality and he won really nicely on debut over course and distance. Marine Nationale won this race last year before going on to win the Supreme. This year’s renewal probably isn’t the strongest but An Tobar stands out as the one with the potential to reach a higher level.
Possible target: Champion Hurdle
This horse was backed for the Ballymore at Cheltenham last year like he couldn’t be beaten and the money was right. He made a competitive field look very average and is perhaps the only horse in training with the potential to lay a glove on Constitution Hill. He’ll need to win well here but he’s very exciting and it’ll be fascinating to see how his season develops.
Possible target: Mares’ Hurdle
Willie Mullins’ mare has loads of ability and was a good third in the Royal Bond here last season. Going up in trip allowed her to thrive and she won a Grade 1 for mares over course and distance in April. She may be vulnerable from a win point of view here, up against Impaire Et Passe, but she has to have a massive chance against her fellow mares in March.
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