The build-up to Monday’s BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National gathers momentum with an outstanding card on day two of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
Featuring two Grade One events, Sunday’s high-class fixture is sure to serve up plenty of thrills and spills across eight competitive races in total and here are our top tips:
Fairyhouse Sunday Tips
13:30 Tip
13:30 Ryan’s Cleaning Maiden Hurdle – Colcannon
Noel Meade's gelding has been frustrating to follow over obstacles but the hope is that better ground will allow him to recapture his smart bumper form, which included a Grade Two win over Sortudo at Leopardstown and a Punchestown Festival third behind Bambino Fever.
14:05 Tip
14:05 Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle – Sticwiththeprocess
Flopped here as a well-fancied favourite when last seen in January but with headgear back on he is taken to confirm that the promise shown in a November course victory was a better guide to his true potential.
14:40 Tip
14:40 Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle – Leader D’Allier
Arrived from France with a big reputation following five straight bumper wins and stepped up on a fair second of 21 to the useful Ballyfad at Leopardstown when hacking up by nine lengths at Punchestown.
A slight setback ruled Leader d’Allier out of the Supreme but Willie Mullins will be keen to make up for lost time by landing this Grade Two prize for a record-extending 14th time.
15:15 Tip
15:15 Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle – Love Me Tender
Jumping problems proved his undoing in elite-level company at Leopardstown over Christmas and during the Dublin Racing Festival under Mark Walsh but a two-month break has hopefully allowed connections to get him back on track in that department.
Love Me Tender had earlier created a big impression with emphatic victories in a Tramore bumper and over timber at Kilbeggan and Tipperary, with Paul Townend describing his hurdling as "electric" at that point.
15:50 Tip
15:50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle – Oldschool Outlaw (NAP)
Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old was a fine second of 22 in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where she had several of this weekend's rivals in behind, and looks a rock-solid selection in this Grade One affair.
Oldschool Outlaw upset Bambino Fever at Naas in December and her impressive Grade Three triumph at this track in early February has worked out well, with reopposing runner-up Place De La Nation going on to be third at Prestbury Park.
16:25 Tip
16:25 BOYLE Sports Novice Handicap Chase – Relieved Of Duties
Never quite got in the race when quietly fancied for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham but has some good form on his CV from earlier in the season, notably when claiming a beginners' chase at this venue and then finishing second to Alnilam at Prestbury Park, so the ability is there.
17:00 Tip
17:00 WillowWarm Gold Cup – Sixmilebridge
Fergal O'Brien opted to sidestep Cheltenham due to unsuitable good ground but a bit of late rain around Fairyhouse should give this seven-year-old the chance to gain more than ample compensation with a second Grade One success.
Sixmilebridge made it three from three over fences when making all to land the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown in grand style, leading from Kitzbuhel until that one came a cropper and then later galloping on strongly to see off Kala Conti by five lengths.
17:30 Tip
17:30 Race Displays Joseph O'Reilly Hunters Chase – Hunters Yarn
An Arkle hope just a couple of seasons ago before losing his way, this nine-year-old regained his confidence with a trio of point-to-point wins over the winter and has done little wrong in a couple of hunters chase events, finishing second to decent sorts in Panda Boy and Lets Go Champ.
Fairyhouse Day 2 Predictions
Fairyhouse Day 2 Predictions
15:50 – Oldschool Outlaw (NAP)
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