Oldschool Outlaw and Place De La Nation ready to battle it out at Fairyhouse
Oldschool Outlaw and Jack Kennedy win the Care At Home Services Mares Maiden Hurdle from Bambino Fever. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
The BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle is the main event at Fairyhouse on Tuesday and this Grade Three looks a straight match between Oldschool Outlaw and Place De La Nation.
Both horses have run twice and won twice this season but Oldschool Outlaw, a recent JP McManus purchase, unquestionably boasts the stronger form credentials having inflicted a first defeat on Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever at Naas in December.
That form got a boost last month when Bambino Fever got off the mark over hurdles at the second time of asking.
In Place De La Nation, Oldschool Outlaw faces another talented Closutton rival at Fairyhouse but the Gordon Elliott-trained mare is fancied to enhance her Cheltenham credentials by winning on her first start in the famous green and gold McManus silks.
On a tricky card, the nap comes in the bumper where Green Hint should score on his first start for Willie Mullins.
A point-to-point winner last March, the selection made a promising Rules debut when second in a valuable bumper at Punchestown for Stuart Crawford last April.
The son of Crystal Ocean should go one place better here.
Springhill Warrior can make it third time lucky in the BetVictor Still Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle.
Runner-up on debut at Navan last March, the Gordon Elliott-trained son of Capri again finished second at Punchestown last month, this time going down to I Started A Joke, a horse who boosted that form when just touched off by Bowensonfire at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Springhill Warrior’s two runs have come with heavy in the going description so testing conditions shouldn’t be a problem for him. This represents a great chance to get off the mark.
Our Uncle Jack routed his opposition in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel last month and a 12lb hike for that annihilation job might not be enough to stop the Martin Fitzgerald-trained 10-year-old from following up in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Dairy Force looks his biggest threat.
The opening race of the day, the Treo Eile Supporting Racehorse Aftercare Mares Maiden Hurdle, looks a decent opportunity for Likealightswitch to make the breakthrough.
Placed in four of his last five starts, Likealightswitch got closer than ever to making a breakthrough when second on deep ground at Clonmel last month.
With conditions again in his favour, a bold bid is anticipated.
1.15 Likealightswitch
1.50 Springhill Warrior (NB)
2.25 Oldschool Outlaw
2.55 Walking Saint
3.30 Folly Master
4.05 Our Uncle Jack
4.40 Green Hint (Nap)
1.15 Shesakindofmagic
1.50 Harwa
2.25 Place De La Nation
2.55 Sound As A Bell
3.30 Lough Nigara
4.05 Dairy Force
4.40 Lemmy Caution.
