No National headache for Hangover
The eight-year-old gelding has yet to finish outside the first four in six starts over fences but let down favourite-backers on his latest appearance at Navan.
His trainer believes there were excuses for that disappointing effort, and feels the testing conditions will be right up his street at Fairyhouse.
“He did a nice bit of work on Wednesday morning and seems in great form, so it’s all systems go,” said County Kildare-based O’Dwyer.
“I was very disappointed with his run in Navan the last day but the yard just wasn’t firing at the time and even though he seemed quite healthy, it was definitely a below-par run.
“He has been in good form since and, providing the weights don’t change too much, Nicky O’Shea will ride him.
“We know he’ll like the ground and while he’s stepping up in trip, he galloped home well in the Thyestes over three miles, so I can’t see the extra few furlongs doing him any harm.
“If he can reproduce that Thyestes Chase run and is in the same sort of form, I think he has a good each-way shout.”
Dessie Hughes reports Siegemaster to be in fine shape ahead of the race.
“He’s had a break since Gowran (third in the Red Mills Chase) and has freshened up well,” the County Kildare trainer told At The Races.
“It will be very testing ground. They had snow on the track two days ago and when that thaws out it makes it very heavy. I think he’ll go on the ground, though. He ran well in the Paddy Power (at Leopardstown) on heavy and ran well when third in the Thyestes. It was very heavy there and he led over the last.
“He’s got plenty of weight. He’s kept sneaking up (the handicap) because he’s been placed in good races.”
Willie Mullins is likely to have two runners - Ballytrim and Equus Maximus. “I don’t think Polmar is going to get in, Pomme Tiepy needs two to come out. The other two are going to run, that’s the plan,” Mullins said.
“I was hoping the ground would dry up for Ballytrim. He can handle soft ground, and can win on it, but he jumps better on better ground.
“Now he’s gone up so much in the weights he’s going to need better ground. He’s in great form, so I’m still hopeful.
“Equus Maximus has just gone off the boil a bit.
“We’ve changed a few things we do with him at him so I’m hoping you’ll see a better Equus Maximus on Monday.
“He’s been a bit disappointing in his last couple of runs.”
