It may be time to don your fourth layer of thermals as we approach late November, but the drop in temperature means only one thing for race fans.
As we enter the Christmas season punters are emerging from their summertime National Hunt slumber to appreciate the guts and glory of winter racing.
The highlight of the pre-Christmas scene is undoubtedly the Fairyhouse Winter festival – the best racing fixture in Ireland this side of Santa.
Taking place this weekend, November 28th and 29th, the festival is a great barometer of how horses are doing before they taper their training for Cheltenham.
Fairyhouse in winter is the course where stars are born, a chance to see horses that will soon be household names before they hit international fame.
It’s like seeing a band in your local before they end up on a stadium tour.
Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Istabraq are just three of the horses to win at the Fairyhouse Winter festival in recent years before going on to find fame and stardom.
With three Grade One races on Sunday – the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, Drinmore Novice Chase, Royal Bond Novice Hurdle – this year’s renewal will again provide a glimpse into what we might expect in Prestbury Park in March 2016.
Arctic Fire (above) is likely to be the star attraction in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle as she is in contention to make seasonal bow. Arctic Fire is one of three Willie Mullins trained horses currently aimed at this prestigious race.
Here’s our guide to the weekend’s racing, and what tips you might take for Cheltenham.
The Auld Stand/Kellys Pub Beginners Chase – Saturday at 12.10pm
The opening race of the weekend at Fairyhouse is normally a brilliant indicator of what horses will be featuring in the RSA chase on day two at Cheltenham.
Last year punters saw Adrianna Des Mottes beat the highly fancied Rule The World by a nose, which set her up nicely for a tilt at the Festival.
There she finished fourth after an able performance, edged out by the supreme competitor that is Don Poli under Bryan Cooper.
This year Mullins is again the man to beat as he could saddle five in the contest, with Black Hercules among the preliminary entries from the Closutton-based trainer.
We also like the talk around Sandra Hughes’ Sub Lieutenant and the highly thought of All Hell Let Loose.
There are 31 horses in the preliminary entries, but expect the numbers to be reduced by the time Saturday afternoon rolls around as trainers will be keeping a close eye on the conditions at Fairyhouse.
Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle – Sunday at 1.10pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=607pwDKSKwI
In 2014 this race saw the emergence of a genuine superstar from the Mullins stable in the form of Nichols Canyon. Sent off at 7/2, but a horse with undoubted talents, he went on to make a huge impression at Cheltenham, as he came home third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Since then he’s been the form horse from Closutton and caused a major shock when upstaging Faugheen recently at Punchestown.
A strong performance here could be the perfect springboard for the opener on day two of Cheltenham for whoever emerges with the win, and this year’s action sees four Mullins’ horses potentially aimed at the race, including the highly fancied Thomas Hobson, Long Dog, Gangster and Bachasson.
Noel Meade has just the one preliminary entry, with Gunnery Sergeant readied for the trip, while Gordon Elliot goes with just the one horse, Roman Gold, among the eight currently in contention for the race worth €51,000.
Mouse Morris has Baily Cloud in mind for the Grade One, after recent wins in Gowran and Galway.
Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1) – Sunday 1.40pm
In the absence of the lame Annie Power, Sandra Hughes mount of Lieutenant Colonel upstaged his rivals last year to claim the second Grade One of the 2014 festival by blitzing Jetson down the home straight.
He repeated the trick just a month later at Leopardstown against the same opposition, and headed to Cheltenham as a warm tip for the World Hurdle.
But if ever a horse suffered an off day it was Lieutenant Colonel in March, coming home 10th of the 16 starters.
Despite the disappointment, this race is a golden opportunity for a horse, and their trainer, to set themselves up for Leopardstown after Christmas.
Sunday’s race is worth a staggering €85,000, and will see some of the best racers in this country on show.
The big news at the preliminary entries stage is that Annie Power will miss this year’s action, with Mullins’ Arctic Fire now the top rated horse left in the contest.
Mullins may saddle Clondaw Court and mare Petite Parisienne as part of his three-hander, while Noel Meade’s Snow Falcon is looking for a second win in successive years at Fairyhouse after victory in a hot bumper in October 2014.
Monksland is also in the reckoning while if value is a priority for punters then the Mouse Morris’ mount Alpha Des Obeaux could be a decent price by the weekend.
Taglietelle for Gordon Elliott, Tony Martin’s Thomas Edison and Gwencily Berbas for Alan Fleming are also in with a chance on Sunday afternoon for a contest that looks like it will be the best race this side of Christmas.
Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) – Sunday at 2.40 pm
The 2014 edition of this contest produced two horses that would light up Cheltenham just a few months later.
And bizarrely, both runners would come home one after another at Cheltenham in the JLT Novices’ Chase behind Vautour.
Valseur Lido took the win 12 months ago in Meath for Willie Mullins, but only just ahead of Apache Stronghold, with both horses at a decent price for this time of year.
There are nine horses under consideration for this year’s action.
Gordon Elliot’s No More Heroes (above) looks like the horse to beat from the preliminary entries.
Early betting for Cheltenham sees this horse as live contender for the RSA Chase and understandably Sunday is seen a major staging post in retaining punters’ confidence.
Elliot has previous in this race, having claimed the 2013 title with Don Cossack so his knowledge has to be respected.
Shantou Flyer is included by Colin Bowe, and Sandra Hughes has All Hell Let Loose and Sub Lieutenant in contention.
Willie Mullins is going with just the one horse, Outlander, as he looks to defend the title, but faces competition from Noel Meade’s Monksland.
Rightdownthemiddle for Michael Mulvany completes the list of nine.
All in all it promises to be a great weekend of racing and craic.
What better way to enjoy the top-class racing action than with one of packages on offer?
There is one hospitality option remaining for Saturday 28th – from €50 per person in the Jameson Stand – while there are still restaurant packages for Sunday.
Alternatively there are Group Punters Packs available. For €30 on Saturday or €35 on Sunday you receive admission, race card, €5 bet, pint, hot beef roll. A bargain!
Tickets and packages available here, while Marathon Coaches are offering a bus service from Dublin city centre.
