Ballyfad can make winning start to life over fences at Fairyhouse
SMART EFFORT: Ballyfad's best run to date came when he finished second to Talk The Talk with subsequent Cheltenham winner King Rasko Grey back in third in a Leopardstown Grade One in February. Picture: Healy Racing
Ballyfad can make a winning start to life over fences in the Irish National Hunt Chase CLG Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.
Victorious on debut at Down Royal last season, Ballyfad followed up another bumper success at Punchestown with a winning start to life over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Stepped up to Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival at the start of February, the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old ran a cracker when going down by a short head to Talk The Talk.
Ballyfad was perhaps still feeling the effects of that run when disappointing in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before he ended his season by finishing third in an Aintree Grade One.
He should be even better over fences and is fancied to take this en route to better things, possibly the Drinmore Novice Chase back at Tuesday’s venue later this month.
The likeable Glen Kiln, a five-time winner over hurdles, can give the selection most to think about. A close second on his chasing debut at this venue last month, he has race fitness on his side here but Ballyfad is fancied to get the better of the argument.
Elliott and champion jockey Jack Kennedy can also land the spoils in the opening race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle, where newcomer Quatre Saison gets the tentative nod.
It could be a cracking day for Kennedy as there’s plenty to like about the prospects of the Eoin McCarthy-trained Well Bud in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.
Kennedy was the man on board when the five-year-old made the breakthrough at this venue last month and the pair can prove a winning combination again over this longer trip.
The Willie Mullins-trained Rebel Reba can deny the champion jockey a clean sweep from his four rides on the day by getting the better of the Elliott-trained Western Shores in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Mares Maiden Hurdle.
12.30 Quatre Saison
1.00 Rebel Reba
1.30 Well Bud (NB)
2.00 Ballyfad (Nap)
2.30 Urbs Intacta Manet
3.00 Hearts And Spades
3.30 Boola Times
4.00 Chanson Du Jury
12.30 Lakeshore
1.00 Western Shores
1.30 Fuusland
2.00 Glen Kiln
2.30 A Year Older
3.00 Everest The Brave
3.30 Tuckmill
4.00 Heron Hill
