Fairyhouse hosts the second day of their Winter Festival on Sunday, with no less than THREE Grade 1’s to look forward to. The card usually gives plenty of pointers to Cheltenham Festival winners, so it’s certainly a day you won’t want to miss!
GG editor Tom Aldridge gives his thoughts for each of the three Grade 1’s, including one he’s keen on in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle who he thinks could be a serious threat to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham next year!
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1.25pm – Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle
This is a huge race to keep an eye on in regards to the Cheltenham Festival – two of the last four winners have gone to win at the Festival in March, including last year’s winner Marine Nationale (went on to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle). Eight of the last ten winners of this race have come from either the Willie Mullins (5 winners) or Gordon Elliott (3 winners) yards, but I’m taking on their runners with AN TOBAR.
Henry De Bromhead’s 6YO has only had the one race over hurdles, but he was so impressive in the way he won with minimal effort. The form received a boost when the runner-up Champagne Admiral won next time out, so the form looks solid enough to me. An Tobar looked a class above those rivals that day, and he rightfully deserves a crack in Grade 1 company after that performance.
Encanto Bruno looks to be the biggest danger, after his equally impressive performance at Cheltenham’s November meeting. However, I’m not convinced he’ll be as effective on soft ground and would much rather be with An Tobar, who is proven on the ground.
2.00pm – Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase
Sharjah is an interesting late recruit to the chasing game and has ran out an impressive winner in both races over fences so far, however this is a rare race that Willie Mullins hasn’t done all that well in of late. The same can’t be said for Gordon Elliott, who has won six of the last ten renewals, so his runner FOUND A FIFTY has to be of interest.
After a solid novice hurdle campaign last season, connections have opted to send him over fences already and judging on his debut run, that looks a wise move. He ran out an easy winner in what was a personal best performance and I’m confident he’s going to be a much better chaser than he was a hurdler.
Letsbeclearaboutit looks to be the danger after a couple of easy wins to kick off his chasing career, but to be honest I’d be more concered with Sharjah, who has looked like he could be revitalised for going over fences. However, with the Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy partnership in red-hot form, I have to side with Found A Fifty.
2.35pm – Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle
I’m really excited to see IMPAIRE ET PASSE back in action, and it’s impossible to oppose Willie Mullins’ star here. The 5YO is unbeaten after five races, including two wins in Grade 1 company, and he looks banker material on seasonal reappearance.
The form of his Ballymore victory has received a boost since, with Gaelic Warrior bolting up in a Grade 1 next time out, and considering Impaire Et Passe beat him easily in the Ballymore, it just goes to show quite how impressive he is. He’s joint-top in the ratings here and I’ve got an interesting stat to further support the selection – In the last four renewals, there have been two 5YO’s……….both of them won. Impaire Et Passe is the only 5YO in this year’s renewal.
Teahupoo might find this trip a bit on the sharp side these days so this could just be a prep run before stepping back up in trip, so I believe Ashroe Diamond could be the bigger danger to the selection. However, she would have to put a career best performance to beat Impaire Et Passe here, and in truth I can’t see her getting close to him. Impaire Et Passe is that good I think he could easily be the biggest danger to Constitution Hill’s unbeaten record, if he chooses to take him on in the 2024 Champion Hurdle.
10 To Follow – Tom Aldridge’s Horses To Follow For The 23/24 Jumps Season
The 2023/24 Jumps Season is underway and we’ve got all our team to give their ’10 to follow’ for the NH season. Next up it’s the turn of GG’s chief editor Tom Aldridge to give his selections, which include one he thinks could take on Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, plus one he…
Wed 25 Oct 2023Fairyhouse Sunday Grade 1 Tips
1.25 Fairyhouse – AN TOBAR (3/1 generally)
2.00 Fairyhouse – FOUND A FIFTY (11/4 generally)
2.35 Fairyhouse – IMPAIRE ET PASSE (8/11 generally)
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