Five reasons to go to Fairyhouse
The big two-day Fairyhouse Winter Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday - looking for reasons to go?
WILL WE SEE THE NEXT DON COSSACK
The former Gold Cup winner won the Drinmore Chase in 2013, beating subsequent Grade 1 winners Carlingford Lough and Road to Riches and little did we know, that we were witnessing something special that day. It was a shame that he had to bow out due to injury after his Gold Cup success, but the Drinmore is the first real clash for our novice chasers this season and with the likes of Death Duty a confirmed starter, go and see our future stars in the flesh.
GRADE 1S A PLENTY
There will three of them next Sunday and we get under way with the Royal Bond and Gordon Elliott looks set to run the imposing Mengli Khan in this year’s renewal. It is a race with a rich roll of honour and it has been won in the past by Hurricane Fly, Moscow Flyer and Istabraq and regardless of who wins on Sunday, they will be a leading contender for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. It promises to be an intriguing race and dangers to Mengli Khan, include the unbeaten Red Jack which is trained by Noel Meade.
WATCH YOUR POCKETS
I don’t mean that literally, but we’ve had a few surprise results in the big races over the last few years. Airlie Beach’s success in last year’s Royal Bond was a minor surprise and she was one of three in the race for Willie Mullins and the one that Ruby Walsh rode was Penhill. He was badly hampered at the second last and finished a well beaten fourth. Penhill went onto win the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Last year’s race threw up more than one Cheltenham Festival winner – Labaik failed to jump off, but remarkably he won the Supreme Novices earlier this year. Saturnas which was second last year won a Grade 1 at Christmas and I’d say this year’s renewal will be a cracker of the race. As far as I’m concerned it’s a race to watch.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Does it matter? For those living on Meath, you’ve never had it as good. Gordon Elliott trains just down the road from the racecourse as does Noel Meade, Tony Martin, Ger Lyons, Dermot McLoughlin, Jim Dreaper and Gavin Cromwell. Robbie Power lives twenty minutes away from the track. They want you to be there, to create an atmosphere. So go and tell them that you appreciate what they do. Don’t wait and say well done after Cheltenham and Aintree next year - do it next weekend.
BRING YOU KIDS
That is a must, as the access that we have to racing professionals is unprecedented. Willie Mullins, Aidan and Joseph O’Brien were lauded in Australia when they saddled the first three home in the Melbourne Cup. They along with Gordon Elliott, Noel Meade, Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy will always make time for you. The likes of Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh and Lisa O’Neill are wonderful role models for women in sport. Go and tell them that they are great next weekend, they’d appreciate it.