Joseph O’Brien to make late call on Fakir D’oudairies options

Fakir D’oudairies is set to be part of a team of ‘around 12 runners’ for Joseph O’Brien at the Cheltenham Festival next week, with a ‘last-minute’ call on which race he will contest. Picture: Healy Racing

Joseph O’Brien plans to make a “last-minute” call on which race Fakir D’oudairies will contest at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has performed well in defeat on each of his two previous appearances at the showpiece meeting — finishing fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2019 and runner-up in the Arkle Trophy 12 months ago.