Fairyhouse preview: Jimmy Du Seuil faces stern test against Big Westerner in Beginners' Chase
Jimmy Du Seuil & Danny Mullins (red sleeves) in action at Cheltenham. Pic: Healy Racing
The festival roadshow moves to Fairyhouse for two days of high-class racing, and on this afternoon’s card the Robert Tyner-trained I’m Slippy can continue his winning ways by taking the Grade Three Jack McInerney Memorial Hurdle.
The four-year-old made a winning debut in the sales bumper at this venue in April and on his recent return to action, in a maiden hurdle in Cork, he was sent off a 1-3 chance to make a successful start over timber.
While it wasn’t a strong race, the performance could hardly have been any smoother as he travelled sweetly through the race and raced home clear without having to be asked any serious question.
This is clearly a big step up in grade but this exciting prospect is in receipt of 6lbs from Grade One-winning filly Murcia, who is having her first start of the season, and can make it count.
Jimmy Du Seuil was off for a long time prior to his only start of last season, in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, but he posted a huge effort to win that race off a UK mark of 146.
The six-year-old now sets out on a chasing career and the exciting sort can make a winning start in the opener, the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Beginners’ Chase.
Willie Mullins’ horse faces a stern test, taking on Albert Bartlett runner-up The Big Westerner, but he can use his pace to shade the verdict. The latter has plenty of scope for this discipline and the ground will be in her favour. She deserves maximum respect.
The Grade One Bar 1 Betting Hatton’s Grace is the feature on Sunday’s card and Teahupoo ought to win the race for the third time in four years.
No match for Lossiemouth when bidding for a hat-trick in last year’s running, he also filled the runner-up spot in the Stayers’ Hurdle before winning at Punchestown. At this stage of his career, he is what he is, but it should be enough to ensure another profitable season.
The obvious danger is Ballyburn, whose chasing career has been put on hold. Errors have proven crucial in that sphere but he is a three-time Grade One winner in just five outings over hurdles and thus very much respected on his return to the smaller obstacles.
The Drinmore Novice Chase is quite interesting, but Romeo Coolio sets the standard on hurdling form, and his chasing debut was impressive enough to believe he can take this step up to Grade One company in his stride. It doesn’t look like a particularly strong race for the level and he ought to have the measure of Gold Dancer and Ol Man Dingle.
In the Porterstown Handicap Chase, Better Times Ahead can make a winning return to chasing on the back of a victory over hurdles.
From the very much in-form team of Robert Tyner, he is unexposed over a trip as long as this one, and he can find further improvement for going this far.
The ground conditions will be in his favour, and given he has just 10-6 to carry, he can get the better of the classy Now Is The Hour, who prepped for this with a fine effort behind Final Demand over an inadequate trip. With a good round of jumping, he will be in the frame and is a real danger, despite having to lumber 11-10.
Emmet Mullins’ team has struck a rich vein of form and Teed Up can continue it by taking the listed Bar 1 Casino Handicap Hurdle. The eight-year-old is something of a Galway specialist, but he has won and run well elsewhere.
He comes here six weeks after a good run in defeat in a premier handicap on the level, and his last run over hurdles, at the Galway Festival, was also a good one. Conditions here will suit, and a big run is on the cards.
11:36 Jimmy Du Seuil (nb)
12:09 Kiltealy Park
12:44 Mirazur West
1:19 I’m Slippy (nap)
1:53 L’Evangeliste
2:25 Dysart Dolomite
3:00 Jordans
3:30 Keep Him Company
11:36 The Big Westerner
12:09 Uhavemeinstitches
12:44 Touch Me Not
1:19 Murcia
1:53 Maverick Mack
2:25 Skylight Hustle
3:00 A Dream To Share
3:30 Generous Risk
12:05 Binge Worthy
12:35 Narciso Has
1:05 Better Times Ahead (nap)
1:35 Love Me Tender
2:05 Romeo Coolio
2:36 Teahupoo
3:11 Teed Up (nb)
3:41 Lultimatom
12:05 Big Stage
12:35 In My Teens
1:05 Now Is The Hour
1:35 Koktail Brut
2:05 Gold Dancer
2:36 Ballyburn
3:11 Last Kingdom
3:41 Grangeclare Park
