Fairyhouse preview
By Brian O'Connor
The name is buried in the middle of the 16-runner Teal Handicap Hurdle, but that name turns an otherwise run-of-themill Fairyhouse card into something of an event. The return of an Aintree Grand National winner to action, especially at his local track, can have that effect.
It may seem like only yesterday that the Carberry family returned to Ratoath and paraded Bobbyjo around the village after becoming Ireland's first Grand National hero in 24 years, but Bobbyjo will be having his first sight of a racecourse in nine months tomorrow.
It may surprise some to see a horse whose greatest day came over four-and-a-half miles and 30 fences return in a hurdle, but, as Aintree proved, Bobbyjo is not just any horse. Also, his warm-up races for both Liverpool and his 1998 Irish National success were over the smaller obstacles. Nevertheless, tomorrow's race is being viewed as something of a pathfinder by Tommy Carberry as he attempts to get his stable star back for another crack at the National in April.
'He's in very good form but it's a lot to expect him to try and win a hurdle first time out,' Carberry said yesterday. 'It will be good to get a run into him and the ground should be okay for him over hurdles.'
Paul Carberry, whose exuberant reaction to winning at Liverpool was such a highlight, steps aside for his 5 lb-claiming younger brother Philip to take the ride. Paul instead rides Cottage Lord for Noel Meade.
But wherever he finishes, Bobbyjo is sure to attract the most attention. Punters searching for a bet in a competitive race, though, could do worse than save with Kings Valley.
Carberry, however, should have better luck in the mares novice chase courtesy of Sallie's Girl. The teak-tough Meadetrained runner would prefer further, and the ground can hardly be deep enough, but she was an honourable six-length runner-up to To Your Honour at Leopardstown last weekend and looks to have too much class for Mill Lane Lady and Janiste.
Barry Geraghty has seen his lead in the jockeys table steadily whittled away in recent weeks by Carberry, and going into this weekend he is on the 48 mark, nine ahead of Carberry, with Jason Titley a further four back. But he should at least maintain the gap at this fixture.
Geraghty is on Market Lass in the handicap chase, one of three runners Jessica Harrington has aimed at the contest. None of the other two can be casually dismissed, nor can the chance of Tony Martin's bottomweight Fandango de Chassy be denied.
But Market Lass is on a Fairyhouse hat-trick and the evidence of her defeat of Cockney Lad and Pauls Run last time suggests she could still be on the improve.
Geraghty is also selected to land the maiden hurdle on Noble Promise if that one can repeat the form of a second to Aldino at Navan, while the nap is foisted upon One Fine Day in the mares maiden hurdle.
Paul Nolan's runner has won her last two bumper starts at Navan and Leopardstown by spectacularly stretching the fields, but there didn't appear to be any excuses for the others either time and Aonfocaleile, third at Leopardstown, has boosted the form since. Have At It, who got a race in the stewards room at Navan last Sunday, looks the danger.
