Easy Game© Photo Healy Racing
French Dynamite (change in going) and Magic Daze (declared in error) are now non-runners in the McInerney Properties Fairyhouse Chase at Fairyhouse.
This leaves rank outsider Kapard as the only opposition to Willie Mullins' three runners with Easy Game and Janidil disputing favouritism
Easy Game, the mount of Paul Townend, has won 11 times over the larger obstacles and as well as looking to extend his current winning streak will be bidding for a third-straight victory in this two-and-a-half-mile contest.
Janidil is looking to return to the form that saw him score at Gowran in February following a below-par showing at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He didn’t jump great at Cheltenham,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for Janidil’s owner JP McManus.
“He was a bit disappointing there and his jumping let him down, but Willie thinks he has him back in good form and we’re hoping for the best.”
The green and gold of McManus appears to have solid representation in the Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle, where again Mullins holds all the aces at the top of the market. Blood Destiny was underwhelming when sent off 3-1 for the Triumph Hurdle, but returns to the scene of his prior 18-length romp attempting to get back on track, while stablemate Gust Of Wind ran with real credit in that Festival contest to finish fourth and is an improving juvenile.
With Tekao (scoped wrong) an absentee, McManus' hopes are now pinned to Padraig Roche's Cougar a Deep Impact colt who is two from three over obstacles.
“He jumped very well early on and probably got a few soft touches, but for whatever reason he didn’t perform very well at Leopardstown,” said Berry. “He’s after having a nice break, so we’re hoping he will run well.”
Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Monkfish looks to defy a 713-day absence when he makes his eagerly-awaited return in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.
He forms one half of a formidable hand for Mullins in the Grade Two contest, with the master of Closutton also saddling Asterion Forlonge who will bid to go one better than his Thurles second on reappearance. Fil Dor (Gordon Elliott), Beacon Edge (Noel Meade) and HMS Seahorse (Paul Nolan) all disappointed in the Coral Cup when last sighted but attempt to bounce back here, while Paddy Corkery’s Master McShee completes the sextet taking part.
