Wexford preview

Trainer Seamus Fahey is keeping his fingers crossed there is some ease in the ground at Wexford ahead of Hidden Crack s appearance in the Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase.

With a total prize fund of 23,500 euros, the two-mile-three-furlong contest is the most valuable event of the St Patrick's Day fixture and a field of 15 horses aged 10 and over are set to go to post.

Hidden Crack ran his best race for a while when beaten four lengths into third at Clonmel earlier in the month and Fahey is hopeful of another bold show if his charge handles the conditions.

He said: "He's in good heart, but I wouldn't want the ground to dry up much more.

"I was happy with his run the last day when he was third - he was beaten by two better handicapped horses. He is off a decent mark tomorrow. His regular pilot Shane Butler can't do the weight, so Andrew Leigh is on him. He's been placed on him before. I'd be hopeful of a good run."

Local trainer Gordon Doyle runs the hat-trick-seeking Foritsa and said: "He's in grand form. It has been a while since he ran due to races being called off, so he might lack a bit of match sharpness.

"He'll handle the ground and hopefully he will make it two from two at Wexford. His owner Harry Williams is from New Ross and would love a winner at Wexford. Foritsa really seems to enjoy low weights on his back. That's why I am running him in slightly better grades of races than he should be in."

Doyle also saddles The Admiral Benbow in the McGuinness Lambert Auctioneers Novice Handicap Chase. The nine-year-old was pulled up on his latest appearance at Navan in December, but his trainer is confident he can bounce back.

He said: "I think he'll run a good race. He was pulled up the last day because he had a knee problem and the ground was atrocious." Captainofthefleet has finished behind a couple of Cheltenham Festival winners in Vautour and Don Poli the last twice and faces six rivals in the Micheal O'Murchadha Memorial Rated Hurdle.

Trainer Eamon O'Connell said: "His form looks good on paper!

"I'd be really hopeful of him tomorrow. He's in great form and the trip and ground will suit. Davy Russell has ridden him before and knows him. I'd be disappointed if he didn't run well."