A LOT TO LIKE

Mullins mare should take her chance and seal Cheltenham Joy

THE Willie Mullins-trained Lot Of Joy should book her place on the lorry to Cheltenham by justifying odds-on favouritism in today’s Fairyhouse Schooling Races Mares Maiden Hurdle in Fairyhouse.

The 2021 Swedish St Leger winner has performed creditably in four starts since arriving in Closutton, two on the flat and two over flights, and has been found an ideal opportunity to register her first success on Irish soil and earn a crack at the Mares Novice at Cheltenham.

A five-year-old Camelot mare, Lot Of Joy made her Irish debut in the valuable Connacht Hotel Amateur Handicap in Galway and was doing her best work in the closing stages when filling fourth spot behind classy stable-companion Echoes In Rain.

She built on that effort when running a cracker in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, when one length third behind Waterville.

She looked an ideal candidate for hurdling but, sent off a 4/11 favourite for her hurdling bow in Cork, was bit raw and, ultimately, couldn’t cope with subsequent scorer and Grade 1 fourth Inothewayurthinkin.

Lot Of Joy started favourite again when stepping-up to two and a half miles at Leopardstown over Christmas but, having looked the likely winner, was caught close home and beaten a neck by Deep Cave.

Today, against weak opposition, she appears to face a straightforward task and I expect Paul Townend to keep it simple and make all on the Closutton mare.

The other short-priced, Mullinstrained banker on today’s card is Instit in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Mares Beginners Chase.

This five-year-old has made mistakes on both starts over fences, when finishing very tired behind top mare Impervious in a Grade 2 mares event in Cork and, last time, when making the running but proving no match for Telmesomethinggirl in Naas.

Today, in lesser company, she should be able to enjoy a solo run in front and, given a more convincing display of jumping, should outclass her rivals.

Like Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott has his sights set on Cheltenham. And the talented but enigmatic Minella Crooner, being prepared for the National Hunt Chase, will be fancied to take today’s Fairyhouse Easter Festival Rated Chase.

Grade 1 placed over hurdles, he was narrowly beaten by Darrens Hope on his fencing debut in a Grade 2 at Punchestown before pipping I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse.

Last time, he was outpaced at a crucial stage when a distant third behind Impervious in a Grade 3 at Punchestown.

Crooner needs a real test of stamina, which he’ll get today. And he gets the nod over the Emmet Mullins-trained top-weight Cape Gentleman.