OH BOY! THIS IS ONE NOT TO BE MISSED AT DOWNPATRICK

TAKE a chance on Fairymount Boy to record his first chase success in the Down Time Festival Handicap Chase in Downpatrick today, the first stage of a two-day meeting at the County Down track.

Trained by Michael Hourigan (Junior), the nine-year-old is an infrequent winner, having scored just twice over hurdles, at Gowran Park and Thurles.

But he’s unexposed over fences – he has run just five times over the bigger obstacles and is currently rated 80 over the bigger obstacles, a whopping 20lb. below his hurdle mark.

Fairymount Boy showed his current well-being at Ballinrobe less than three weeks ago, on his first start since Christmas.

He finished a creditable second to the well-handicaped, comfortable winner The Last Indian, ten lengths clear of the third.

That run should leave JJ Slevin’s mount spot-on for today’s task and, if he jumps soundly and copes with the summer ground, I expect him to arrive late and land the spoils.

Earlier, Irish Lass trained by Willie Mullins (inset), winner of her only bumper start, at Tramore last summer, will take beating in the opener while Gordon Elliott’s versatile mare Goodthynemilam, second to Magic Of Light at the Punchestown Festival when last seen, appeals in the AJC group Handicap Chase.

This mare has won two of her four starts over fences and is more effective over the bigger obstacles than hurdles. She’s preferred to Denis Hogan’s Jack The Wire.