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16:55 Fairyhouse

Sunday 31 March 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

WillowWarm Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 5m 46.0s

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Selected odds by:

Blood Destiny^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C| D

6/4

Smart hurdler who resumed his progress over fences with victory in the Flyingbolt at Navan (2m, heavy) 29 days ago, proving 6½ lengths too strong for Spillane's Tower. Jumps really well and open to further improvement.

Form: 192-121

Flanking Maneuver²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Meade| OR: 135| CD

40/1

Opened chase account over 21.5f here in October. Well adrift of Blood Destiny and Spillane's Tower in the Flyingbolt at Navan (16f, heavy, 16/1) on penultimate start, though, and he was a first-fence faller at Naas last time.

Form: 33-143F

Saint Felicien¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

11/1

Smart hurdler who has quickly reached a similar level over fences this season, off the mark at the fourth attempt in a Gowran maiden (2½m, heavy) last month. Didn't get the chance to show what he can do at the Cheltenham Festival since and further progress possible.

Form: P/3221B

Spillane's Tower²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Walsh| T: J J Mangan| OR: 145| D

7/4

Notched second success in this sphere when outpointing Blood Destiny in a Punchestown Grade 3 in January. Beaten 6½ lengths by that rival in the Flyingbolt at Navan (2m, heavy) since but meets that rival on 7 lb better terms here and, moreover, this step back up in trip looks a good move.

Form: 2-44112

Tactical Move²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

7/1

Hasn't done much wrong since switched to fences, chasing home stablemate Nick Rockett on chase debut here in January and has hit the target at Gowran and Naas since. Should make his presence felt.

Form: 21/1-211

Thecompanysergeant¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D Meyler| T: D Hogan

33/1

Useful hurdler who was in the process of matching that level of form when departing at the last at Leopardstown (17f, heavy) on debut over fences earlier this month. Confirmed that promise when second in a Thurles Grade 3 recently but this is much tougher.

Form: 1400F2

Zanahiyr^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| C

17/2

Very smart winning hurdler who got off the mark over fences in 2m maiden at Thurles last month, despite making some mistakes. By no means disgraced when fourth of 11 in the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival since and he merits respect.

Form: 124214

Forecasts

Blood Destiny (6/4), Spillane's Tower (7/4), Tactical Move (7/1), Zanahiyr (17/2), Saint Felicien (11/1), Thecompanysergeant (33/1), Flanking Maneuver (40/1)

The head-to-head between SPILLANE'S TOWER and Blood Destiny stands at 1-1 and they could be the pair to concentrate on. The latter represents the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard (responsible for the last five winners of this Grade 1 contest) and he is not passed over at all lightly. However, Spillane's Tower appeared to find 2m too sharp in the Flyingbolt and he has a good chance of turning the tables on the winner here. Saint Felicien remains open to improvement and he is third choice.