Fairyhouse Grade 1 Mares Hurdle

[mayo]

The third running of the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, won last year by Adriana Des Mottes and by Annie Power in 2013, has attracted 19 entries, including four from the UK.

The Harry Fry-trained Bitofapuzzle and Alan King's The Pirate's Queen, third and fourth respectively behind Glens Melody in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, head the entries for the €100,000 race and they could be joined by Desert Queen, another trained by Fry and the more experienced Rons Dream who is in the care of Peter Bowen.

Not surprisingly, champion trainer Willie Mullins is well represented and he has five in the race headed by Morning Run, the winner of the Grade 3 Solerina Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in January and who is unbeaten in six starts.

The Mullins-trained Uranna boasts some strong form including a win from Rons Dream at Sandown last month and he also has Whiteout who was a good winner on her debut at Gowran Park four weeks ago.

Peter Roe, Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse said: "I am delighted with the quality and depth of entries for our two Grade 1 races on Easter Sunday.

"With two Cheltenham winners entered in the Ryanair and the third and fourth from the Grade 1 Mares at Cheltenham along with the Grade 3 Solerina Hurdle winner at Fairyhouse it is quality all the way.

"With the Ryanair involvement on the day and over 30 free flights up for grabs along with loads of children's entertainment it is a day not to be missed."

[Old Vic]

Previous Winners

http://www.fatjockey.com/news-blogs/racing_news.php?Fairyhouse-Mares-Hurdle-2015-377

Mullins dominant since it was upgraded to Grade 1

[mayo]

Fry said: "Bitofapuzzle has come out of Cheltenham very well and she seems to be in good order. She was only beaten a head and a neck at Cheltenham and the plan is to run at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

"It will be a competitive race and she'll take her chance, as will Desert Queen who has looked impressive winning her two novice hurdles very easily.

"This will represent a big step up in class for her, but there isn't another Grade One mares' novice hurdle between now and the end of the season, so she'll run as well.

"Noel Fehily will ride Bitofapuzzle while I'd say Nick Scholfield will ride Desert Queen."

Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals with Annie Power and Adriana Des Mottes and this year's five-strong team is headed by the unbeaten Morning Run and impressive Sandown scorer Uranna.

Carrigmoorna Rock has struck at Listed and Grade Three level this season for Robert Tyner, but was pulled up in a race won by Morning Run at the track in January.

"She goes for the big novice on Sunday and she seems to be in good form again," said Tyner.

"This race has been the plan for her for a while and hopefully she'll run a big race."

[Old Vic]

Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle

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[Morning Glory]

Ruby

Morning Run misses the Grade 1 mares’ race (3.20) as she had a hold up but Willie still has three.

Patrick was always likely to ride Lyrical Theatre as he knows the owners. She was a bit disappointing in Limerick but seems to be in good form since. Paul rides Uranna, who’s a good stayer.

I’m on Petite Parisienne and I thought she ran well in the Triumph. A four-year-old, Adriana Des Mottes, won it in last year so that’s not a negative. I think Petite will stay. I haven’t ridden her very much, but I sat on her on Thursday morning and she worked fine. She gets a good allowance which is a help.

This is one of the most competitive renewals there has been of this race, though Annie Power beat Glens Melody two years ago, which was good enough form!

Bitofapuzzle is guaranteed to make it a good test of stamina. Jessie Harrington’s pair, Keppols Queen and Rock On The Moor, are good mares as well.

I’m looking forward to riding Petite Parisienne but it looks on paper like there could be a few coming down to the last together.