Massive Grade 1 Card at Fairyhouse on Wednesday

The tremendous Tuesday at Fairyhouse is upon us and a number of high grade contests are set to unfold at the venerable Irish steeplechasing course. Expect some surprises as there are a number of supremely exciting contenders set to line up on the day. We’ll be examining each race and attempting to gauge who the top selections might be.

11:50

DAYS AHEAD has responded with a win after every race in which he’s come second or third. He was a beaten favourite when finishing third last time out at Punchestown and he’ll be looking to get the job done in his first spin around the Fairyhouse circuit. Most of these contenders are coming in off mediocre maiden scores and he only gives up four pounds.

12:20

This Grade 1 novice hurdle has six up-and-coming runners going 2m. PERFECT SMILE got things off to a winning start on his seasonal debut at Punchestown back in late October. He was a 1/3 favourite on the day and has only really been undone by bad luck in his campaign back in the 2009/10 season- with a clean trip he’s got this one for Noel Meade’s yard. Zaidpour is the possible spoiler here, getting three pounds on the rest of the field and Willy Mullins charge comes in hitting 100% over hurdles.

12:50

The Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is finally set to go and there are a number of big names looking to secure their share of the €55,250 purse up for grabs. From a ratings perspective, it’s hard to get past Solwhit and HURRICANE FLY on the forecast. Both of these contenders look a step above the competition and if they handle the going well then there’s no reason why it won’t come down to these two. Expect Oscar Dan Dan to take some money while Voler La Vedette might be an interesting outside play for anyone looking for a spoiler. There isn’t a huge amount to separate between Solwhit and Hurricane, but the Willy Mullins entry has a Grade 1 score at Fairyhouse to his credit while Solwhit merely has a Grade C handicap hurdle victory.

1:20

Speaking of Grade C Handicap Hurdles, we’ve got one set to run at 1:20. This is one of the trickier ones of the day, but HAZEYMM could be the right selection at the right time. He came on gamely to nab second place in a Grade 3 contest at Navan last time out in early November and he was also second place just before that. He’s been knocking on the door for a while and could hit at a decent price today.

1:55

The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a classy Grade 1 going 2m4f over the soft going at Fairyhouse. There are nine solid contestants in the mix but siding with COOLDINE could be a rewarding decision as he tends to flourish in softer going. He’s been punching above his weight in his past few and he should enjoy the slightly weaker Grade 1 company in this race. A fifth place showing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is nothing to sneeze at. J’y Vole would have been an interesting outside shot, but he’ll likely need the race. An all-Willy-Mullins double may prove a popular forecast selection though.

2:30

MIKAEL D’HAGUENET gets the nod ahead of a rather underwhelming group of novice chasers in this 2m4f Grade 1 contest. Don’t expect a huge amount of value on this well-fancied winner of the 2009 Ballymore novice hurdle. It’s actually his first race back since toppling Cousin Vinny at the Punchestown Festival in May of 2009. He is a classy sort and will be well worked out for this one, and has won off the layoff in the past.

3:00

Willy Mullins saddles nearly half the field in this one and the play appears to be GOLDEN SILVER who has been taking on some big name opponents with a second place finish to Big Zeb and a score over Forpadydeplasterer at Punchestown last April. He’s accomplished over the Fairyhouse surface and looks set to make the grade.

3:30

This Grade B handicap chase goes 2m1f with €27,300 to be split amongst the top finishers. JERED could be set for another big day out here and he was a beaten favourite last time on his seasonal debut at Cork. He hasn’t won at Fairyhouse since 2008, but he has always acquitted himself well and he should enjoy the softer going.