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Crosshue returns at Fairyhouse after Ayr mishap
Crosshue Boy
© Photo Healy Racing
Crosshue Boy makes a swift return in Monday's Devenish Chase at Fairyhouse after his early mishap in the Scottish Grand National.
Sean Doyle 's nine-year-old was the subject of a major gamble at Ayr, but unfortunately his supporters knew their fate early when he stumbled after apparently jumping the seventh fence cleanly.
He now drops a mile and a half in trip and moves up to Grade Two level for the E100,000 contest, where he only faces five rivals.
"We were going to go straight to Punchestown, but he had the entry in this race and we saw it was a small field, so we thought we’d give it a go," said Doyle.
"Obviously he didn’t have a race last week, unfortunately, and he seemed fresh when he got home.
"There’s great prize money and only six runners, so he should pick up prize money if he gets round.
"I'm not worried about coming back in trip - as a novice that was what he did most of his racing over. We’ll look at Punchestown after this."
Taking him on are two from Gordon Elliott, The Storyteller and Doctor Phoenix plus Snow Falcon Jett and Ordinary World Off You Go last seen chasing home dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll in the Boyne Hurdle, is one of seven runners in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.
Henry de Bromhead’s Petit Mouchoir and Willie Mullins’ Wicklow Brave set the standard with Rashaan Tombstone Joey Sasa and Not Many Left making up the seven. Coeur Sublime and Gardens Of Babylon second and third to Pentland Hills in the Triumph Hurdle, clash again in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Juvenile Hurdle. Way Back Home Star Max and Hannon add further strength in depth.
In the closing bumper, Gordon Elliott pitches two of his brightest prospects against each other.
The 330,000 pound buy Andy Dufresne, a 10-length winner at Down Royal in January for JP McManus, will face The Very Man who cost Gigginstown House Stud 210,000 pounds.