Rivals Face very tough task

THE Gordon Elliotttrained Run Wild Fred should prove very tough to beat in the Face Of Betvictor (Pro-am) Flat Race, the bumper on today’s seven-race card at Fairyhouse which features the €100,000 Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.

A five-year-old Shantou gelding, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, Fred was disqualified for a prohibited substance following his victory in his sole point-to-point start at Dawstown in May.

He was quietly fancied and shaped with plenty of promise when making his racecourse debut at Navan, when facing five previous winners in a listed event.

And, ridden then as he will be today by Lisa O’neill, Run Wild Fred shaped with plenty of promise finishing a creditable third, beaten less than 10 lengths, behind exciting stable-companion Envoi Allen and Midnight Run.

Back in maiden company, Run Wild Fred sets a decent standard and, with some improvement expected, is a confident nap choice, with the other Gigginstown runner, Noel Meade’s winner of a point-to-point at Dromahane, the most likely threat.

The Philip Dempseytrained winner of a Naas bumper before finishing third to Barrington Court in a listed mares event in Navan, looks the one to beat in the opening Easter Festival Tickets Mare Maiden Hurdle.

The Presenting mare comes into the race on the back of a rock-solid hurdle debut effort at Naas, when beaten a half-length by last season’s Cheltenham bumper winner Relegate, with Barrington Court in third.

Luke Dempsey’s mount holds recent Punchestown bumper winner Tens Or Better on bumper form and might have more to fear from the Willie Mullins-trained hurdling debutante

Runner-up to subsequent dual Grade 1-winner Sharjah in the Guinness Galway Hurdle, appeals in the featured Dan Moore.

This eight-year-old is relatively unexposed over fences. But he ran creditably to finish sixth, beaten 10 lengths behind Auvergnat in the Paddy Power (three miles) at Leopardstown over Christmas, only his third effort in handicap chase company.

Dropping back to two miles and a furlong today should suit Mark Walsh’s mount in a race for which Gigginstown will have five challengers, four of them trained by Gordon Elliott, who is chasing a hat-trick in the race.

Novice

and runner- to Tisamystery at Leopardstown last time, look the pick of Elliott’s quartet. But Blazer will do for me.w