Our Irish Eyes expert returns to preview the opening day of the the big Fairyhouse meeting, with Augusta Kate fancied to go well at rewarding odds.
Recommended bets
3pts win Yorkhill in 4.00 Fairyhouse at 4/6
1pt win Kilaro Boy in 4.35 Fairyhouse at 9/1
1pt e.w. Augusta Kate in 2.50 Fairyhouse at 8/1
It is no surprise to see that Tudor City, who has run in nine hurdle starts, and finished runner-up on the last three of those - novices' handicaps at both Cheltenham and Leopardstown in addition to the prestigious open handicap at Leopardstown (formerly the Pierce Hurdle, this year sponsored by Coral) - is rated 128.
What is a surprise, however, is that he is still a maiden and today he bids to shed that tag in the first race of the Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse.
His main challenger today is the enigmatic Broken Soul who is rated just one pound lower and the 122-rated Agent Boru is no slouch either but ultimately Tudor City should win this.
The fact Tudor City runs in the maiden as opposed to the following race, the novices' handicap which he qualifies for, points to the chances of an opening race double for Tony Martin who runs Artful Artist instead off a mark of 106.
A good fourth in the Irish Cesarewitch last October, Artful Artist looked like a certain winner at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting only to be headed on the line by Concordin. The handicapper subsequently acted reasonably, giving him four pounds for that effort and Martin had minded his mark specifically with this contest in mind.
The four-year-old Dakota Moirette sets a fair standard and following a respectable run in the Fred Winter (beaten nine lengths) he is bound to run well here but Artful Artist’s recent work has been very impressive and with Ruby Walsh on board, there will be plenty of disappointed faces if he fails to take advantage of this mark today and record his first win in over 33 months.
Let’s Dance is odds-on for the Grade One Mares’ Hurdle but she has been good to us all year and it’s difficult to see her being beaten, barring accidents. Her stablemate AUGUSTA KATE is the value in the race, however. She wasn’t seen at her best in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham but still ran well to finish sixth. Today she competes against her own sex again and whilst it is difficult to envisage her beating Let’s Dance it is not impossible and at 8/1 she looks the each-way bet, or indeed at 10/3 without the favourite.
Edward O’Grady has had a quiet queason by his standards but his only winner over fences this season, Prickly, has a chance in the Novice Handicap Chase. A winner over course and distance back in November, he was given a break and ran well to finish runner-up in his first handicap chase at Limerick 17 days ago. He’s had more wind operations than he has had runs over fences but he has finished first, second and third now in three starts in this sphere so he is unexposed and could be an improver. The fact that O’Grady had a 1-2 on the flat at Cork yesterday certainly doesn’t dent any confidence in Prickly’s chances.
Much has been made of the fact that YORKHILL jumps left-handed and so many have argued this right-handed Fairyhouse track will not suit. The fact that he was beaten at Punchestown last year is put forward as further evidence that he won’t win here.
However, what is often overlooked is the fact that in 10 racecourse starts, six have come on right-handed tracks and he has won five! He won his bumpers at Gowran and Punchestown, won a maiden hurdle at the latter track and the Grade One Tolworth at Sandown.
He also won his beginners chase here at Fairyhouse. Furthermore when he was beaten at the Punchestown festival last year, he had won at Cheltenham and Aintree whereas this year he has skipped Aintree for this contest.
He’s easily the best horse in the race and you have to be with the horse with the most ability in any race, whether they jump left or right-handed, as the best horses inevitably get from A to B fastest and almost always win.
KILARO BOY looks to have plenty going for him the Novice Chase.
A winner of his only point-to-point start, he failed to trouble the judge in three maiden hurdle starts before landing a novice handicap over course and distance at this meeting last year on his fourth start over hurdles.
Third and fifth over inadequate trips on his first two starts over fences, he won a handicap chase on his third start when stepped up to today’s trip, making all and jumping well when required. That fencing technique will be a huge help at this track and with Barry Browne claiming 7lb today, no other runner will carry as little weight as Kilaro Boy.
Posted at 0945 on 16/04/17.