Fox to Fire in battle of Alantiq
FIREFOX might confirm his Fairyhouse bumper form with Ile Alantique in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle on today’s Naas card, cancelled last Sunday due to fog.
There’s free admission for all racegoers for a card which shares the Friday slot with Dundalk’s first meeting of 2024.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Firefox beat Ile Arlantique, one of four runners in the feature for Willie Mullins, by three-quarters of a length at Fairyhouse last Easter – the second of the gelding’s three bumper successes.
And both horses impressed on their hurdling debuts, Firefox beating subsequent Leopardstown winner and Ballymore favourite Ballyburn in Fairyhouse while Ile Atlantique was a wide-margin scorer in Gowran Park.
There should be little between them today as they step-up to two and a half miles, with Firefox preferred.
And, third behind Farren Glory and King Of
Kingsfield in the Grade 1 Royal Bond over two miles, Henry de Bromhead’s An Tobar is another major contender in a race dominated by the Mullins and Elliott teams in recent seasons.
On the supporting card in Naas, Mullins should strike with Tullyhill, placed in Grade 1 bumper company, in the Matt Britton Maiden Hurdle and Mister Policeman, unbeaten in two starts for Mullins and expected to step forward from his chase debut success at Fairyhouse, in the Betvictor Novice Chase.
Dundalk is set to kick-start its 2024 programme 10 minutes before the Naas bumper.
And Joseph O’brien should be on the mark with once-raced Nerano in the One Of The Only Dual Racetracks Maiden, on the evidence of an encouraging third behind 75-rated Raknah and The Old Nine on his debut over course and distance last month.