ROSE SET TO BLOOM

Fahey star has big prize in her sights

PETER O’HEHIR BALLYSHANNON Rose might register a poignant win in the Betvictor Novice Handicap Chase, the showpiece event on tomorrow’s eight-race card in Naas.

A progressive mare over hurdles last season, when a four-timer saw her mark rocket from 87 to 129, Paul Fahey’s charge has taken well to chasing and is expected to make a bold bid to land this Grade B event just days after the death of her owner Fiona Hughes.

This powerfully-built Doyen mare has won two of her three starts over fences, both victories coming at

Thurles, a beginners back in

October and, last time, a half-length victory over

Jeremys Flame in a Grade 2 mares event, form boosted when her nearest rival followed-up, back at Thurles, on Thursday.

Between those victories, Rose ran creditably in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown when, a close second, she crashed at the final fence behind Vanillier, a Grade 1 winner.

Normally a good jumper and a dour stayer, Ballyshannon Rose is rated 136 and, with Jack Kennedy on board, might be capable of annexing this valuable prize en route to a crack at the Boylesports Irish Grand National.

It’s a competitive handicap and Krabat and Gevrey, penalised for recent wins at Clonmel and Fairyhouse respectively, might prove the main threats to Ballyshannon Rose.

In the Graded action, Captain Guinness, although wrong at the weights, might prove best in the opening, Grade 3 Betvictor Chase.

Successful over course and distance back in November, he has since finished third to Greaneteen in the Tingle Creek and to Chacun Pour Soi in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.

Henry de Bromhead’s (inset) charge faces a tough task, conceding 7lb. to the Mullins pair, Cash Back and Blackbow, and the busy and versatile Darasso.

The free-going, Willie Mullins-trained Ha D’or gets marginal preference for the Grade 2 Betvictor Novice Hurdle.

The French-bred gelding made all to beat four-year-old Celestial Horizon at Fairyhouse last time, giving the impression that there was plenty in the tank.

No Match for Cheltenham Bumper favourite Facile Vega in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown following an impressive debut win at Punchestown, Paul Nolan’s Sandor Clegane is expected to prove too strong for Music Drive in the bumper.

And Noel Meade has solid prospects for Gigginstown House Stud, with Highland Charge and Killer Mode, in the divisions of the Festival Trials Day Maiden Hurdle.