News
5-day Entries for the Final day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse
Monday, 1 January 1
5-day Entries for the Final day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse
Classy Bellvano On-Course for the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase
The Nicky Henderson trained Bellvano is one of 12 left in for the Dan Moore Memorial race on Tuesday 10th, the final day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse. He recently completed a double when winning the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Owned by JP McManus, he has already had a successful trip over to Ireland when winning a Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival last year.
Nearest The Pin who has some smart form in defeat this season will be happier with a less testing surface than what he encountered last time at Navan when disappointing (he was reported to be lame after the race). Other notables to hold their ground at the five day entry stage are Lastoftheleaders for Arthur Moore and Shot From the Hip and Foildubh, both of whom are still entries for the Powers Gold Cup.
The Ratoath GAA Joseph R O’Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase boasts a very strong line up at this stage with the past two winners of the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase still in, this year’s winner Salsify and last year’s winner Zemsky.
Salsify’s trainer Roger Sweeney reports: “He has come out of Cheltenham well and as long as the ground is safe, we’re on for Fairyhouse. If all goes well then we will look to go to Punchestown afterwards.” He won this corresponding race last year before going on to also win at Punchestown.
Zemsky has not run since his Cheltenham victory last year, his trainer Ian Ferguson points out: “We had some problems before Christmas with splints, but they’ve settled down now and he has done plenty of work. As long as the ground is safe he will run. He has won first time out in the past.” He is also set to head to Punchestown after Fairyhouse.
Oscar Delta who was third behind Salsify at Cheltenham is another notable set to take his chance.
12 mares are left in for the Listed John Fowler Memorial Chase. Shop DJ most recently ran in the mares hurdle at Cheltenham having previously won on the flat at Dundalk. She has winning form and good placed form over fences. Our Victoria who has also stood her ground was a well beaten second behind Shop DJ at Thurles. Banjaxed Girl, trained by Lady J Fowler was second to Rathlin on her last Fairyhouse outing.
The Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper which has 33 entries is always competitive and Colin Tizzard has two entries in Virginia Ash and Flaming Charmer. It is the charity race, the Multiple Sclerosis Charity Sweepstakes which brings the curtain down on the Easter Festival.
Peter Roe, Racecourse Manager at Fairyhouse is really looking forward to what is always a great Easter Meeting. Regarding the ground and weather situation he states:- “We have had only 1mm of rain in the last 24 hours and there has been a cold wind. The temperatures have improved slightly today and there is no appreciable rain forecast until Sunday evening. We are currently applying 8mm of water and will continue monitoring the track to ensure good safe National Hunt ground.”
For further information contact:
Tamarisk Doyle, PR Manager, HRI, Ph: 045455685/ 0872936357
Peter Roe, Racecourse Manager Fairyhouse, Ph: 018256167/ 0868208870
.jpg "Fairyhouse_winner")
