4 Grade One races and 4 more graded races at Fairyhouse

A wonderful card at Fairyhouse today, easily the best of the season in Ireland so far, but full of traps for the punter. The problem is how fit some of the runners will be after the long freeze. This applies particularly to Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, who saddles several of the favourites today, as the stable has not really hit top form and many of his horses seem to need their first run quite badly.

With Ruby Walsh expected to be out of action until February, Paul Townend rides most of the leading fancies from this stable. Mikael d´Haguenet, in the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.30 CET, looks their best hope. This outstanding hurdler - unbeaten in 6 starts for Mullins- makes his fencing debut today, and faces strong opposition from Realt Dubh (Noel Meade/ Pul Carberry), held by Mikael on hurdling form, but probably fiitter, as well as Jessies Dream (Gordon Elliott/ Timmy Murphy) and Head of the Posse (Jon Kiely/ David Casey).

The Hatton´s Grace Hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 13.50 looks the best race of the day. Mullins saddles Hurricane Fly, regarded as the best Irish hope of winning the Champion Hurdle, but he may have to play second fiddle to Solwhit (Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell); both are arguably better at 2 miles, and there is not much between them on form, but Solwhit seems to have a clear fitness advantage. It is by no means a two-horse race either, as Oscar Dan Dan (Tom Mullins/ Timmy Murphy) won this last year and could be involved again; however he was possibly lucky to win last time, as German-bred Aitmatov (Meade/ Davy Condon), who fell at the last when still leading and is also a previous winner of this. The mare Voler la Vedette (Colm Murphy/ Andrew Lynch) is also not out of it with her weight allowance.

The John Durkan Memorial over 2 1/2 miles, transferred from Punchestown, also sees Cheltenham hopes at the start. Mullins has two live candidates here, Cooldine (Townend), 5th in the Gold Cup, and the mare J´y Vole (Condon), pulled up when last seen at the Punchestown Festival. However Tranquil Sea (Edward O´Grady/ Andrew McNamara) and Glencove Marina (Eoin Griffin/ Carberry), both recent winners, will offer stern resistance.

Mullins has another good chance in the Grade One Royal Bond novice hurdle at 13.20 with Zaidpour. He is the only 4-yo in the field and has a tall reputation, so much so that he started at odds-on on his debut in a field of 22, winning easily. He is superbly-bred (out of a French Oaks winner) and could well go right to the top. Main danger today is Perfect Smile (Meade/ Carberry), from a stable whose horses are certainly fit enough.

The Hilly Way Chase over 2 miles, transferred from Cork, is only a Grade Two, but is also a hot race, in which Mullins has 3 runners, last year´s winner Golden Silver (Townend), Kempes (David Casey) and Scotsirish (Emmett Mullins), winner of this in 2006. The super-consistent Osana (O´Grady/ McNamara), who has only once been out of the money in 21 starts, almost all at the top level, should definitely be placed here, while Zaarito (Colm Murphy/ Robbie Power) is another threat if he stays on his feet; he has fallen on 5 of his last 10 races but is certainly talented enough.