The Storyteller© Photo Healy Racing
All the weekends are big for Gordon Elliott now and this one is particularly important at Fairyhouse, with the Cullentra House trainer having no less than 23 runners.
Sunday's card of course houses the Grade One action but that is not to detract from Saturday's fare at the County Meath track, which starts off with the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase.
Elliott is two-handed here and while the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Sutton Manor already has good form to his name over the larger obstacles, many will focus in on his stable companion The Storyteller
The Shantou gelding was viewed as an exciting type for handicap hurdles in advance of this term.
He was well touted, including by his handler, for the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Unfortunately the six-year-old went lame a few days before that assignment and had to miss out.
The Storyteller reappeared off a 292-day break at this circuit last month. He could not justify 5-4 favouritism when second then, but his effort behind Chateau Conti can be viewed as satisfactory.
Keith Donoghue will guide Pat Sloan's attractive chestnut for his introduction to this sphere. Willie Mullins' Livelovelaugh is another fascinating first-timer to racecourse fences.
Elliott will also send two into battle for the Grade B EasyFix Handicap Chase. On the back of a Cork success, Doctor Phoenix (Jack Kennedy) is perhaps the pick, over fellow Elliott hope Squouateur (Jodie McGarvey) and the rest. Blow By Blow will be aiming to overcome the bounce factor for Elliott, Gigginstown and Kennedy in the Irish Racing Year Book Maiden Hurdle.
A Grade One-winning bumper performer, the big Robin Des Champs gelding finished third on debut for the yard off a 567-day layoff here in mid-November.
Three point-to-point winners are among the five in line for the concluding Kettles Country House Hotel Supporting Fingal Ravens GAA (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. Ravenhill (Elliott/Lisa O'Neill), Captain Cj (Dermot McLoughlin/Larry O'Carroll) and Minella Encore (Willie and Patrick Mullins) clash with bumper-placed Narcissistic
