Champagne West Could Be The Toast Of Tramore

Fairyhouse

Donnelly Providers Ratoath Handicap Hurdle

Bettatogether is one who will be priced up conservatively now making his debut for Gordon Elliott and in handicaps, but he was a cheap throw-out from the excellent Alan King stable, and will need to step up hugely on what he’s achieved to date if he’s to defy quite a stiff opening mark. Corri Lindo is also not dismissed lightly, having some fair form in previous seasons, and shaping as if the old ability remained after a year’s absence in May. The worry with him is that he’s been missing again since that outing, and his well-being must be taken on trust. All things considered, the safest option looks to be topweight Oscars Den, who landed a quiet gamble at Navan in November, and probably found the run coming soon enough when disappointing a week later at Punchestown. The fact that he’s been off for six weeks since that run suggests he wasn’t quite right there, and he won’t need to improve to defy his new mark in what probably isn’t the strongest race of its type.

Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Beginners Chase

Sutton Place finished lame on his final 2016/17 outing, but had looked a top-drawer performer when winning graded hurdles at Naas and Navan in the winter, and could prove to be a superstar over fences. He missed an engagement at Leopardstown last week due to unsuitable ground, but will have no excuses on that score here, and while his need for testing ground makes him an unlikely player at Cheltenham later in the spring, he should get his chase career off to the perfect start on his way to better things. Kemboy and Pylon The Pressure are above-average recruits who should ensure that it’s not a cakewalk for the favourite, but both lack the obvious scope of the Gordon Elliott runner.

Boylesports €500,000 Irish Grand National April 2nd Handicap Chase

A Hardy Nailer is easily the most intriguing runner in this staying handicap chase, and Robert Tyner’s point winner could be absolutely thrown in off her current mark. A bumper winner on her only attempt, she has shown a useful level of form over hurdles, belatedly getting off the mark at Navan last time, when staying on dourly over 2m4f. That suggested she was ready to step up in distance, and her form over fences came over inadequate trips and at a time when she was struggling for form after returning from a lengthy absence. Now that she has found her best form again over timber, she looks on what could be a very lenient mark, and if her jumping and stamina hold up then she could make a mockery of a contest like this. She did take a crashing fall when last seen in this sphere, and the extended three miles will mean that stamina is fully tested, but she doesn’t look a short runner by any means, and it’s worth taking a chance on her.

Oscars Den 

Sutton Place 

A Hardy Nailer 

Tramore

Savills ‘A Different Outlook’ Chase

Just a small field, but a real puzzle for the listed ‘chase at Tramore, and one which can go the way of Champagne West despite a shocking run on his reappearance in the Clonmel Oil Chase, in which A Toi Phil was second. That form was boosted when third-placed Balko Des Flos was runner-up in the Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Chase, and I’d expect A Toi Phil to be a warm order. He’s not one to trust implicitly, however, and a back-to form Champagne West would give him plenty to think about. Indeed, he won this race in some style a year ago, and followed up in the Thyestes Chase, which is top-class form, and while his jumping can let him down, the prospect of an easy lead should help in that regard.

Tips:

A Hardy Nailer 

Champagne West