IT IS A FRESH ADVANTAGE

ANDY DUFRESNE is marginally preferred to Asterion Forlonge in the Grade 1 Underwriting Exchange Novice Chase in Fairyhouse tomorrow.

The absence of Energumene and Latest Exhibition has thrown the race wide open. And, although rated 4lb inferior to his chief rival, the fresher Andy Dufresne has a golden opportunity to snatch this big pot.

Successful at Grade 2 level as a novice hurdler, Andy Dufresne has won two of his three starts over fences, a debut success at Wexford followed by a workmanlike defeat of Embittered in a Grade 3 in Navan.

Last time, he came up short in the Grade 1 Flogas at

Leopardstown, failing to cope with Monkfish and Latest Exhibition, beaten a total of 17 lengths in third.

Suited by the better ground tomorrow, Andy Dufresne has a golden opportunity to stake his claim as a Grade 1 chaser and gets the vote.

Trained by Willie Mullins (inset) Asterion Forlonge, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles, has experienced a more colourful career over fences.

The grey scored on his fencing bow at Punchestown, but then fell twice – at Limerick and Punchestown.

Ridden with restraint, he finished a length behind Andy Dufresne when fourth in the Flogas and, last time, acquitted himself well when finishing five lengths third to Chantry House in the

Marsh at Cheltenham.

With a rating of 153, Asterion Forlonge is the standard-bearer in the field. But he’s not entirely straight-forward and, for that reason, I’m siding with Andy Dufresne.

The other Mullins runners, Franco De Port, a Grade 1 winner at Christmas who failed to sparkle in Cheltenham, and Janidil, a faller in the Flogas, must bounce back.

Scarlet And Dove is a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner, but faces a tougher task here. And I’ll be keeping a close eye on

Gearoid O’loughlin’s Cedarwood Road, a winner at Gowran Park last time.