Beef set for Fairyhouse test
The manner of his victory over two miles at the Curragh earlier this month showed he has suffered no ill effects from his third-fence tumble in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and trainer Michael Hourigan is hoping for the best.
He said: “The Powers Gold Cup is the plan at the moment and the horse is in good form. Michael Kinane said after winning at the Curragh that you could run him on any ground bar firm so once the ground is safe you can take it he runs next Tuesday.”
Twenty-four hours earlier the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National is the highlight of the Fairyhouse three-day Easter Festival which begins on Sunday and here Just In Debt, trained by Pat Doyle, has been installed the 6-1 second favourite by bookmakers Cashmans.
Trainer Pat Doyle couldn’t be happier with Just In Debt at this stage.
He said: “He’s in serious good order and Norman (Williamson) was happy with him at Cork (sixth to Native Jack). Good ground won’t be a problem and even if the ground is on the fast side of good that won’t trouble him either.”
Willie Mullins, who will most likely take on Beef Or Salmon with Adamant Approach in the Powers Gold Cup, nominated Hedgehunter as his likely Irish National hope.
He said: “Hedgehunter is the one that is most likely to run at this stage but we need rain or otherwise I’ll put him away for the season.”
Meanwhile Tiutchev continues to please trainer Martin Pipe in his build-up to this Saturday’s Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan.
The 10-year-old, who fell last time out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, has finished his quarantine period and has now moved to stables at the track.
Pipe said yesterday: “Tiutchev was moved yesterday from the Shiroi Quarantine Area to Nakayama racecourse. He continues to eat and drink well. “Eamon, our travelling head lad, had a meeting with the Japan Racing Association on Sunday evening to go through all of the rules and regulations.
“Now that they have moved out of quarantine he says that the accommodation is excellent.”
Last year Pipe sent Exit Swinger to the Far East to finish last of the 15 runners behind St Steven.
Alamshar has been the subject of some significant support yesterday for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom in June. The John Oxx-trained colt finished second to Balestrini in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday and is 6-1 clear second favourite with Coral from 10-1.
William Hill also reported support for Alamshar’s Derby bid, cutting him to 11-2 from 8-1 while the Tote have him at 5-1.
Andre Fabre’s Intercontinental has been trimmed to 9-1 from 12-1 for the Sagitta 1000 Guineas by Coral after the French filly was the subject of decent support while Hills have her at 8-1.
