Grade 1 Fairyhouse Bonanza – The Big Names On Show + 10/1 Treble!

Fairyhouse hosts their annual Winter Festival this weekend, with Sunday’s card jampacked with Graded contests – all of which we will have free runner-by-runner coverage and selections for on our free horse racing tips page.

Taking a look at the three Grade 1’s in prospect, we have picked out some of the big names to keep an eye out for this weekend, also producing a treble which – at the time of writing – is currently a best-priced 10/1 with Betfred – who have a sign-up offer available on our free bets page.

Royal Bond Novice Hurdle

Since being established in 1994, the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle has proved to be one of the most competitive novice hurdles in the National Hunt calendar.

The likes of Istabraq, Moscow Flyer, Hurricane Fly and Jezki – but to name a few – have landed this prize, whilst Willie Mullins has taken eight renewals since 1998 – his most recent success coming just last year with Quick Grabim.

The star attraction in this year’s renewal appears to be Envoi Allen, who arrives with an unblemished 6-6 record in Points, Bumpers and Hurdle races to date.

Gordon Elliott’s charge barely had to come off the bridle to score at Down Royal earlier this month, and that form has received a few boosts since.

If his jumping holds up under this sterner test, everything points towards him being the one to stop.

Drinmore Novice Chase

Since being upgraded to Grade 1 status in 1994, the Drinmore Novice Chase has produced some top-class winners – with 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack amongst the race’s recent roll of honour.

Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work overcame Le Richebourg to take last year’s renewal, and the County Meath-based Elliott has now trained five of the last nine winners.

He appears to hold leading claims of enhancing that record on Sunday, with four of the nine entries – current market leader Samcro likely to be the yard’s main hope.

The seven-year-old son of Germany appeared to get his career back on track when running out an impressive winner on last month’s chase debut at Down Royal, and connections immediately nominated this race as his target afterwards.

Hatton’s Grace Hurdle

Named after the Vincent O’Brien-trained three-time Champion Hurdle winner, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle invariably attracts an exciting line-up.

Bringing up her third victory in the race last year, Apple’s Jade became the joint-most successful horse in the race – joining Limestone Lad and Solerina on three wins.

One of our writers has already produced his views on why he won’t be writing off Apple’s Jade despite her underwhelming seasonal reappearance at Navan – and the seven-year-old comes out best on these terms.

She faces another top-class mare here though, in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Benie Des Dieux.

Her sole defeat since joining these connections came in last season’s OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, where she fell at the last with the race seemingly at her mercy.

Many of her yard’s so-called big guns have already made winning reappearances this campaign, and she will undoubtedly be a short price to do so on Sunday.