three Grade Ones at Fairyhouse

the two U.K.meetings today are of only minor significance, but there is a huge card in Ireland, where Fairyhouse stages one of its best meetings of the year, featuring three Grade One races. First up is the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at 14.00 CET, where Willie Mullins holds a strong hand with Allez Colombieres (Ruby Walsh) and Nichols Canyon (Paul Townend), owned by his top owners Susannah Ricci and Graham Wylie respectively. One has to assume that Ruby has made the right choice, although the other riunner was much better on the flat, being a listed winner for John Gosden. Flat form does not always work out over jumps, but it is also worth remembering that Tandem (Dermot Weld/ Davy Russell) was also smart on the level and his shrewd trainer would not be running him here without good reason.
The Royal Bond was won last year by The Tullow Tank (Sandra Hughes/ Adrian Heskin), who is likely to start favourite for the Drinmore Novice Chase at 15.05, which has attracted 13 runners, the largest field in its history.
The Tullow Tank, a half-brother to yesterday´s Hennessy winner Many Clouds, is 3 from 3 here and was a convincing winner of his only start so far over fences. However the same can be said of Apache Stronghold (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) and Valseur Lido (Willie Mullins/ Bryan Cooper) -one of 4 Gigginstown entries. This is a race to be watched rather than bet on, but the winner must be followed through the whole season.
The other Grade One is the Hattons Grace Hurdle at 14.30 and the field here is somewhat substandard following the withdrawal of Annie Power. However her owner Ricci and trainer Mullins can still take this with CD specialist Zaidpour (Walsh), who won this in 2012 and was runner-up last year to Jezki- no disgrace there. Jezki´s half-brother Jetson (Jessica Harrington/ Russell) could be the main danger now - wjhile, talking of half-brothers, it is worth noting that Zaidpour´s Zaidiyn (Brian Ellison/ Danny Cook) runs in the novice hurdle at 13.50 at Carlisle., and if he jumps a bit better this time, should defy a 7 lbs penalty for winning at Bangor first time out.
In what could be another big day for Ricci, Mullins and Walsh, we also expect their highly-regarded ex-French Kalkir to win the Grade Three 3yo hurdle that opens the Fairyhouse card at 13.30.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Tarabiyn - Kabjoy - Verawal
2. Race: Nichols Canyon - Tandem - Draco
3. Race: Zaidpour - Little King Robin - Jetson
4. Race: Apache Stronghold - Real Steel - Alelchi Inois
5. Race: Who Let De Dogsout - Down Ace - Pollywollydoodle
6. Race: Seefood - Embracing Change - Jupitor
7. Race: Akito - Art Of Security - Soft Seventeen