Akatara© Photo Healy Racing
Akatara represents the Bowe family at Fairyhouse in a race which will mean a lot to them.
Trainer Michael Bowe's father James prepared Solerina to win a plethora of Graded events and the great mare is honoured in the Grade Three Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle.
Akatara has something to find at this level, as although she has scored twice at Kilbeggan to date, she was beaten a country mile behind Champion Hurdle prospect Un De Sceaux at Navan last week.
Bowe said: "She seems in great form and came out of the race the other day very well. She didn't have an overly-hard race as she was never going to be able to live with the pace the front two were setting.
"I think the horse that won the race the other day is a serious horse. He's the most exciting horse I've seen in Ireland for a good while and he looks very good value for the Champion Hurdle in my eyes.
"The two races she was entered in this weekend (also the Limestone Lad Hurdle) were both close to my heart, for obvious reasons, and we just decided to take the easier option. She wouldn't be up to the level of Solerina or Limestone Lad, but she's a trier and God loves a trier!"
The Willie Mullins pair of Gitane Du Berlais and Vicky De L'Oasis set the standard on form, while Sean Doyle's Theatre Bird is a Graded winner and on a hat-trick, with Romantic Fashion and Sunday Serenade also making progress up the ladder.
Doyle said of Theatre Bird: "We don't want to see it get any wetter, but she seems in the same form as Leopardstown. She was very good the last day but has plenty weight and gives away plenty of weight to one of Willie Mullins' mares (Gitane Du Berlais). She is fit and well, though, and should take all the beating."
Prunella Dobbs feels Romantic Fashion faces a tough task. The handler said: "She's only had one run over hurdles and it's quite a big ask on just her second hurdle start. We're throwing her in at the deep end a bit in this company, but she is very well and should run well. Ideally she would prefer a bit further, although she did win over two-two the last day."
Peter Fahey's Sunday Serenade was not disgraced in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham before winning on her hurdling debut at Tramore.
The trainer said: "She's in great form and has come on from her Tramore win, and the runner-up then has since won. She lacks a bit of experience and there are a lot of nice mares in the race but the trip, ground and track all look perfect and I'm hopeful she can pick up a bit of prize money."
