Away from the main British action on Saturday, top trainer Willie Mullins sends some of his big guns to Fairyhouse for their eight-race card. We’ve delved deeper into the chances of his runners, which you can check out alongside an exclusive Betfred sign up offer, that provides a huge £60 in bonuses when you stake £10.
BACARDYS & EGALITY MANS – (12:00pm, Get A Run For Your Money With BetVictor Beginners Chase)
Willie Mullins has landed the last three renewals of this beginners’ chase with the likes of Kemboy, Real Sreel and Allaho.
He fires two solid bullets in a bid to bring up a fourth straight renewal.
BACARDYS rates the stable number one. The former dual Grade 1 winning novice hurdler currently 0-6 in this sphere, but he has generally been set some tough assignments most recently when fifth in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Bacardys had finished runner-up to the classy Bob Olinger on his start prior to that, and a return to somewhere near that level of form should make him the one to beat in this.
Mullins second runner in the race is EGALITY MANS, who runs in the famous Donnelly silks.
This 8yo Network gelding wasted little time over hurdles and was in the process of running a solid race on chase debut at Punchestown last month before taking a tumble two-out.
Unfortunately, that was his second consecutive fall and whilst less exposed than stablemate Bacardys he may just be in need of a confidence booster now.
Verdict: Two solid chances for Mullins and BACARDYS, can provide the yard with a fourth consecutive victory in a race that they seem to target with one of their better novices.
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ALLEGORIE DE VASSY, BRAGANZA, BRANDY LOVE & GRANGEE – (1:40pm, BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle)
Willie Mullins goes mob-handed with the four runners here in a race in which he has farmed, having taken five of the last eight renewals.
ALLEGORIE DE VASSY runs in the famous Ricci silks and having shown clear ability in four French starts justified prohibitive odds to make a winning stable debut over C&D earlier this month, under today’s pilot Sean O’Keeffe.
The outsider of four, according to the market at least, BRAGANZA showed little in one start on the level for Ed Dunlop back in December 2017, but she was clearly clued up for her stable/hurdles debut at Thurles in November, running out a 6l winner. She disappointed in Listed company at that venue subsequently, however, and has a little to prove on the back of that.
The market favours BRANDY LOVE of the Mullins four, a horse who arrives with a big reputation having cost £200,000 at the sales back in February 2020. This mare was behind Grangee in a Leopardstown bumper last season, yet jumpins was always where he future lay and she made a highly promising start in this sphere when running out a 10l Naas winner last month.
The aforementioned GRANGEE is the last of the Mullins quartet, she enjoyed a fine bumper campaign last season, winning three of five starts and finishing 6th in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. An impressive winner on hurdles debut at this venue in November, Grangee failed to match that in Grade 1 company latest yet was beaten less than 5l and will appreciate getting back against her own sex.
Verdict: In truth there appears little to split the three more favoured Mullins runners on what they have achieved thus far, but BRANDY LOVE created a serious impression when going in on last month’s hurdles debut and this slight step up in trip will suit, so she gets the vote.
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HA D’OR – (2:15pm, BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle)
Mullins took this prize with Bleu Berry in 2017, and his HA D’OR is expected to be a warm order to provide the yard with another success in the race.
This 5yo was a French bumper winner earlier in his career and although failing to get off the mark as a juvenile for these connections those starts came at Grade 2 and Grade 1 level.
He appreciated his sights being lowered at Navan on last month’s reappearance where he finished a credible second behind the useful Au Fleuron. The front two pulled just over 7l clear of the remainder that day and with this appearing to be a weaker race on paper it looks a good opportunity for him to gain a first hurdles win.
Verdict: HA D’OR made a very promising seasonal reappearance at Navan last month and will prove tough to beat if replicating that.
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MICRO MANAGE – (2:50pm, BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle)
The last of the Mullins runners on Fairyhouse’s Saturday card is the talented MICRO MANAGE, who was Group-placed on the level for these connections earlier this year.
This 6yo holds a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entry and although 0-2 over hurdles for these connections last season, he raced a little too freely for his own good and the Cheltenham entry suggests that connections feel Micro Manage is now more amenable.
If translating his 99 flat rating into this discipline he should prove a class apart from the field.
Verdict: 0-2 over hurdles last season but MICRO MANAGE remains a 99-rated flat performer and should get off the mark if bringing his A-game.
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