STICKING WITH HONEY
Henry’s star can stay unbeaten
HENRY de BROMHEAD’S Honeysuckle can keep her unbeaten record intact in the Baroneracing. com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.
On by far the best day’s racing of the season so far, Honeysuckle faces the biggest test of her career.
She did win at Grade 1 level last season but this race represents a far greater test for her as she has to take on some top class types in Apple’s Jade and Penhill.
However, Honeysuckle was very impressive when winning a conditions hurdle at this course and distance on her comeback last month.
On that occasion she was far too strong for a pair of Grade 2 winners and she is likely to have improved a good deal from that run.
The former Stayers Hurdle star Penhill may be vulnerable on his first start for a year and a half while Apple’s Jade has questions to answer.
The brilliant mare is looking for her fourth straight win in this race but she ran some way below her best at Navan last month and this race demands far more.
Gordon Elliott looks to have good prospects of picking up the two other Grade 1 events on offer with his Envoi Allen getting the vote in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
Last season’s Cheltenham Bumper winner made an impressive start to his hurdling career at Down Royal a month ago.
This gelding will probably be at his best over longer trips but he has sufficient class to win at the top level over this distance.
His biggest threat might come from stablemate Abacadabras who was impressive in winning a Grade 3 contest at Navan recently.
In the Drinmore Novice Chase, all eyes will be on Samcro who makes his second appearance over fences.
The former star novice hurdler bounced back from a tough time last season to win very nicely on his chasing debut at Down Royal last month.
He looked to take well to chasing that day and showed much of his old spark so he could once again emerge as a force at the highest level.
In the opening Grade 3 juvenile hurdle it is hard to look past the claims of A Wave Of The Sea who was very impressive at Down Royal last time.
Joseph O’brien’s charge trounced some useful types and he looks graded material.
The valuable handicap hurdle should fall the way of Willie Mullins who Janidil is hard to oppose.
This lightly raced type impressed with his last effort at Down Royal where he had more to spare than the winning margin would suggest.
Glorious Galway is a hopeful choice to land the Porterstown Chase having shown up so well to take second in last month’s Cork National.