12:55 Sunday

By his recent standards, Gordon Elliott is shorthanded with just four runners here. 

He’s won the past two renewals of this race, with both of those running in the Troytown on their previous start. Interestingly, both failed to complete in the Troytown which would point you in the direction of Diol Ker, but I prefer the chances of Frontal Assault.

He shaped with promise on his previous two starts in competitive handicaps, staying on well last time having not been best placed. A return to a real marathon trip looks sure to suit, as will a return to Fairyhouse given he finished second in the 2022 Irish Grand National. 

He runs off the same mark as he did that day, and while he’s been slightly frustrating, he’s threatened to win a race like this for a while.

14:00 Sunday

Just the five runners, but they’re all interesting in their own right. 

Gavin Cromwell runs two; Perceval Legallois looks the type to be aimed at staying handicap chases down the line and Letsbeclearaboutit is his clear standout contender for this race. 

He showed a good level of form over hurdles, including when fourth in the Albert Bartlett, but he’s already shown that he will be a much better chaser. 

His jumping, for a novice, has been superb, and you’d have to be impressed with the way he’s travelled in his two chase starts to date. Having looked a thorough stayer over hurdles, he’s not looked short of speed since switching to the larger obstacles, which is so often the case. 

I Am Maximus, on all that we know, needs further and while I do like Found A Fifty, his chase debut was blighted somewhat by the removal of the fences in the straight.

Sharjah has been a superb servant down the years, and has taken to chasing well, but I’m hoping the younger legs of Letsbeclearaboutit can prevail.

15:10 Sunday

I’m adamant Foxy Girl (NAP) has a big handicap in her, and hopefully Sunday is the day!

Sent off the shortest price of Henry’s five runners in the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices Hurdle despite a lack of experience, she was too keen to do herself justice but still shaped with plenty of promise. 

The form of her two Maiden hurdle runs reads well and her handicap debut at Down Royal was a frustrating watch; held up in last and trapped on the inside, she had no chance of winning from that position but ran on well (had to come widest of all to do so) to finish an admirable third.

While still raced a tad keenly, the application of a hood did seem to help and if she can build on her previous run, she could make a mark of 125 look very lenient.