Bright New Dawn, near side, runs at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
Davy Russell feels the 5lb penalty that Bright New Dawn is forced to carry in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse today (2.55) makes it a "big old ask".
The Dessie Hughes-trained six-year-old is simply biding time over the smaller obstacles with his trainer itching to send him over fences.
Nevertheless, he has shown some very smart form this season, with the only novices to finish in front of him having been Supreme Novices' Hurdle first and second Champagne Fever and Jezki, and Waaheb.
He may have been a fortunate winner of the Grade Two Michael Purcell last time out at Thurles when Venture Capital fell at the final flight, but a stiffer track such as Fairyhouse is expected to suit him much more.
"He's a big horse and we think he'll make a nice chaser," said Russell.
"He's a decent hurdler but it's going to be a big old ask giving away the 5lb to some very good horses so we'll just have to see."
The Mags Mullins-trained Anonis looked a very bight prospect earlier in the season having won a Listed bumper at Cheltenham and a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.
However, he had a crashing fall at Leopardstown when taking on Pont Alexandre and looked to be still feeling the effects of that last time out.
"I think he was still feeling his fall," said his jockey Danny Mullins.
"He made a bad mistake at Clonmel and it was as if he remembered that last day and he dropped away so I pulled him up.
"I'd be hoping he's up to contesting races like this but it's a bit of a fact-finding mission to see if he's back to what he was before.
"If he is I think he should be able to sneak a place behind Defy Logic and Bright New Dawn but he needs to get back to his best."
Paul Nolan 's Defy Logic looked promising in winning his first two hurdle races and time may tell he faced a very stiff task against Annie Power last time out.
"It's a nice race and there's not much left for the rest of the season, hopefully he'll run well," said Nolan.
"It will be very testing conditions and he has handled it in the past, but as a young horse we worked him on some nice ground and he moved very well on it.
"Getting 5lb off Dessie's horse helps, he looks a strong stayer and he won despite not liking the track at Thurles last time, Fairyhouse should suit him much better.
"We're very hopeful and we're hoping he'll give AP (McCoy) a nice spin."
Dermot Weld 's Some Tikket and Pat Fahy's Morning Assembly add further strength in depth to a classy affair.
