BoyleSports Gold Cup Day at Fairyhouse Day two of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival on Sunday promises to be a terrific afternoon’s entertainment when the undoubted star attraction will be the reappearance of Galopin Des Champ in the BoyleSports sponsored Grade One Gold Cup Novices’ Chase at 4.55pm. The Willie Mullins’ trained six-year-old has set the national hunt season alight with his exuberant front-running displays and was destined for a memorable Cheltenham Festival victory when he slipped and fell at the final fence last month. On that occasion Galopin Des Champ had the race at his mercy and was the best part of a dozen lengths ahead of the high class Bob Olinger when he came to grief. All Jumping fans will be hoping to witness another scintillating display from Galopin Des Champ on Sunday without any of the late drama that unfolded at Cheltenham. He will face five rivals in the €100,000 event and, while they have all shown themselves to be decent chasers, it’s very unlikely that they’ll be able to lay down any serious challenge to the BoyleSports odds-on favourite if he turns up in top form. The other Grade One contest on Sunday’s card looks a much more difficult puzzle to solve. The Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final has attracted a bumper field of sixteen which includes the Harry Fry trained Cheltenham winner Love Envoy. The daughter of Westerner puts her unbeaten record on the line and while she is probably the most likely winner her best form has come on softer ground. Champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles eight in opposition and cases can be made for several of them, most notably Brandy Love which was a late withdrawal from Love Envoy’s race at Cheltenham due to lameness. Brandy Love is the mount of Paul Townend and will sport a hood for the first time which looks a good move considering her wayward antics when beaten by a stablemate over this course on her most recent start in January. Love Envoy had six of today’s opposition behind her at Cheltenham. The JP McManus owned Dinoblue was the subject of strong support in the Cheltenham race when backed down to 11/8 favourite by the off but dropped out tamely in the latter stages of the race having been ridden prominently. As Dinoblue had previously scored on heavy ground it’s hard to see this quicker surface making any noticeable difference to her chances and perhaps the consistent Grangee and Impervious are more obvious dangers on better ground. One mare that cannot be totally discounted is Statuaire which boasts a Grade One victory at Fairyhouse from back in November when she landed the Royal Bond Hurdle on Good ground. She has a lot of distance to make up on many of today’s rivals from Cheltenham but if she can settle better in the early stages this time a bold showing is on the cards. Elsewhere on the card Buddy Rich is most interesting in the BoyleSports Novices’ Handicap Chase at 4.20pm. This Gordon Elliott trained runner was on many peoples’ shortlists for Cheltenham but was taken out of the Grand Annual because of Heavy ground. All three of his previous victories have come on a sound surface so these underfoot conditions should play to the strengths of the Davy Russell partnered nine-year-old. BoyleSports are offering new customers an enhanced sign up offer to mark their sponsorship of this weekend’s 150th running of the Irish Grand National. Bet €10 Get €50 in Free Bets New customers that register and place a qualifying bet of €10 or more will receive €50 in Free Bets. Players must be 18 or over to participate and their first bet of €10 or more must be placed at odds of Evens or greater. The €50 free bet will be applied to to the customer’s account within 5 minutes of the 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free bets will expire within 7 days. T&Cs Apply. GamblingCare.ie 7 Places - Irish Grand National This offer is available to new and existing customers of BoyleSports. This is a Mobile only offer. 25+ horses must run for 7 Places. 1/5 odds. Applies to bets placed from 3pm, Saturday 16th April. Applies to UK and IRE Customers aged 18+.Standard BoyleSports T&Cs Apply. GamblingCare.ie
