Shaneshill should be too classy for rivals at Fairyhouse
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old, no match for his star stable-companion Douvan in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, looks a cut above his six rivals in the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Leading Light & Ocovango Novice Hurdle.
Winner of three bumpers, including the Grade 1 at Punchestown and second to Silver Concorde at Cheltenham last year, Shaneshill has won only one of his three starts over hurdles, a maiden at this venue back in November.
Outpointed by No More Heroes in a Grade 1 at Navan in December, he wasn’t seen again until going down by four and a half lengths to Douvan in Cheltenham.
Stepping-up to two and a half miles — he’s rated 7lb. superior to stable-companion and chief rival Outlander — sixth to Windsor Park in the Neptune at Cheltenham, and is difficult to oppose. Receiving 15lb. from the geldings and already a Grade 1 winner over fences, having won the Scilly Isles at Sandown, Gitane Du Berlais sets the standard in the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup and looks another likely winner for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
Cork Racecourse in Mallow starts its three-day Easter meeting with a flat card today. And, suited by the testing ground, the progressive Dermot Weld-trained Massinga might be capable of landing the listed Noblesse Stakes.
Joseph O’Brien returns to flat action and has double prospects on East India in the one-mile rated race and Hans Holbein in the maiden.
Tomorrow, Gold Cup fifth On His Own might return to winning ways in the Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase, in which Roi Du Mee, although officially rated 10lb. inferior, is a definite threat.
Earlier, A Hardy Nailer, narrowly beaten by Arctic Skipper at Naas last time, should open her account in the Maiden Hurdle.
