Tricky Bobbyjo best avoided

IT’S Bobbyjo Day in Fairyhouse, with two Grade 3 events up for decision and champion trainer Willie Mullins chasing a fifth successive victory in the feature.

But both graded contests look particularly tricky for punters. And a safer bet is the Mullinstrained favourite

in the bumper. A Westerner gelding, bought for £300,000 following victory in his sole point-to-point at Knockanard a year ago, Ferny Hollow has been beaten at odds-on in both bumper outings.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding made his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse on December 1 and, keen throughout and hanging in the closing stages, he failed to cope with Eric Bloodaxe, which went on to score again at Leopardstown over

Christmas before disappointing at the same track in his hat-trick bid.

Punters tried to recoup their losses at Leopardstown over Christmas. But, one again, Ferny Hollow had to settle for the runner-up berth, beaten a half-length by another Joseph O’brien-trained gelding, Forged In Fire, the pair finishing 17 lengths clear of the remainder.

Significantly, Ferny Hollow will wear a hood for the first time today, which should help him settle. And, with Patrick Mullins pulling the strings, he should prove very tough to beat.

Meanwhile, Willie Mullins will be responsible for four of the six runners in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase, and an eighth win in the race in 10 years.

His quartet includes 2018 winner winner of the Irish Gold Cup and fourth behind stable-companion Kemboy and Al Boum Photo in the Punchestown Gold Cup last season.

But Paul Townend’s mount has been disappointing behind Delta Work in both the Savills and Irish Gold Cup on his last two starts. And he’ll need to bounce back to his best if he’s to cope with Gordon Elliott’s and his own stable-companion

second to Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Year’s Day before finishing sixth behind Total Recall in the Thyestes last time.

Alpha Des Obeaux, although without a win since November 2018, comes out best at the weights and gets a hesitant vote.

Third to Road To Respect in a Grade 1 at Down Royal in November, he ran a cracker when third to Walk In The Mill in the Becher at Aintree in early December and, receiving 10lb from Bellshill, might take this prize en route to a return to Aintree for the National.