SNOW FORECAST

Falcon to fly home in Easter showpiece at Fairyhouse

SNOW FALCON can defy Gordon Elliott’s 13-strong Irish Grand National (5.00) battalion to give trainer Noel Meade a second victory in the Fairyhouse marathon.

Meade, who won the race with The Bunny Boiler in 2002, saddled Snow Falcon to five successes over hurdles – including two in Grade 2 company.

The eight-year-old made his debut over fences at Naas in November, finishing second to the useful but ill-fated Mossback.

Meade then elected to step the son of Presenting up to to Grade 1 level for the Drinmore Novice Chase at this afternoon’s venue in December, and Sean Flanagan’s mount emerged with plenty of credit when third to Death Duty.

Snow Falcon made it third time lucky at Leopardstown over Christmas, landing a beginners’ chase by 28 lengths from Wishmoor.

Back against the best in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival at the start of February, my selection (below) was anything but discredited in coming home fifth to Monalee, one place behind Dounikos, from whom he receives 2lb here. A handicap mark of 149 – 8lb beneath his hurdles perch – looks within range for Snow Falcon, and the fact he ran second on the Flat in last season’s Irish Cesarewitch raises hopes he will last home over the threemile, five-furlong trip. Although he ran below market expectations when second in Cheltenham’s Ryanair UN DE Chase last month, SCEAUX should go one better in the Grade 2 Devenish Chase (4.25).