Sr Carthage to continue on upward curve
The mare took a big step forward when encountering very testing ground at Listowel in September, and followed up with the minimum of fuss just two days later. She then ran a superb race to be beaten just half a length in third place behind Silver Concorde in the November Handicap at Leopardstown on her final start of the season.
She finished the term on a mark of 84 and there’s no reason to believe she has finished progressing. The drop back to ten and a half furlongs isn’t a concern, particularly on the soft-to-heavy ground, and she can make a winning start to the new campaign, at the expense of Papa’s Way, who won this race last year and was successful over hurdles at this track recently.
Tomorrow Fairyhouse hosts the first of its three-day Easter Festival/Irish Grand National meeting, and there is a classy card for punters to enjoy.
The best bet on the card comes in the Grade One Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase, which can go the way of the Kerry Lee-trained Kylemore Lough.
A superb jumper with a record of four wins from five starts over fences, the seven-year-old is unbeaten in testing conditions and if the forecast rain materialises it will play to his strengths.
He likes to be ridden handy, but has shown he can sit in behind if required. With Sizing Platinum and Otago Trail in the race, there should be no problem getting a lead at a decent pace, and the selection, which is officially the highest rated horse in the race, can prove too progressive for likely favourite Outlander.
The latter fell when still in contention in the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, but hasn’t had long to recover.
He wouldn’t be running unless connections felt he was none the worse for the spill, but he looks opposable.
