Four horses take Andy Holding's fancy, with some big prices available at Fairyhouse.
14.55 Fakenham
RAVENOUS (best price 9-2) has yet to win in nine starts over hurdles, but he produced by far and away his best effort at Wincanton on his most recent outing and a repeat of that effort would see him go close to shedding his maiden tag.
In what turned out to be a very strongly-run affair at the West Country venue, the son of Raven’s Pass had little trouble going with the sound tempo and having looked like he was sure to win after jumping the second last, it was only the late rally of the useful Commanche Red that prevented him from gaining a deserved success. Clearly well suited by a competitive and well-run heat on good ground, today’s venue provides him with the ideal circumstances to perform to his best and he doesn’t look a bad price considering all the positives going in his direction.
15.15 Fairyhouse
A frustrating run of seconds for EIGHT AND BOB (NAP) (best price 11-4) had the potential of tipping even his most fervent supporters over the edge, but since then Willie Mullins’ gelding has restored the faith and he’s fancied to continue the good work over a track where he’s unbeaten in his last two starts.
The first victory cam in gritty fashion when a step up in trip over a more galloping course than previously encountering suited down to the ground and even though he was forced to drop back half a mile on his return visit 58 days ago, the six-year-old coped admirably.
Once again appreciating the flowing nature of the track, the son of Big Bad Bob ran out a much more convincing winner and with the time figure and subsequent form of several in behind suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, even a significant rise in the ratings might not be enough to prevent him from completing his hat trick.
17.00 Fairyhouse
The recent results for this prestigious prize suggest punters need to tread carefully with their hard-earned cash, but even so, a few quid can be afforded in the direction of SNUGSBOROUGH BENNY (best price 14-1).
Brought along steadily by considerate connections, Liam Cusack’s gelding has come a long way in a relatively short space of time and his victory in the Galway Blazers last season suggested he’s capable of landing an even bigger pot in the future. Coming from a long way back in well-run and hugely competitive contest at Ballybrit to score with a bit up his sleeve, the nine-year-old has had this race as his main target ever since and the fact he’s been sent to the Co Meath venue twice in his last three starts in order to gain some valuable experience of the track should reap benefits come the big day.
A smooth winner over fences here two months ago, the son of Beneficial returns to the scene of that performance nice and fresh, and with two of his main weapons being the way he jumps and travels in his races, he has all the right credentials to put up a bold show at a decent price.
It was too early to say whether GUN DIGGER (best price 18-1) would have been a major factor in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, but he was still going well enough until disaster struck at the first one down the back on the final circuit and off his light weight here today, he looks one of the more interesting contenders.
Although not quite good enough for Grade 3 company at Punchestown back in January, he still wasn’t beaten too far by subsequent Cheltenham winner, A Plus Tard, and that decent performance followed up his most impressive display over fences at Leopardstown. Appreciating the good ground at the Dublin venue, the son of Stowaway jumped and travelled for fun over that stiff track and having always looked the type who was capable of landing a decent pot one day when the emphasis was on stamina, today he gets a chance to see whether he has a future in races of this nature.
