This promises to be a thrilling encounter and contains many interesting horses from big Irish stables. It is the only Grade 1 of Fairyhouse's three-day Festival and will be fiercely competitive with favourite Trafford Lad heading the betting.
Trafford Lad finished third in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2008 and quickly established himself as an exciting novice chaser early this season, notching three wins over fences before Christmas. He was stepped up in trip to 3m after those wins but failed to see out the distance convincingly and was collared close home. He seems much more effective at middle distances and proved this when third in the DR. PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown in February. He was beaten into third by Cooldine and Forpadytheplasterer and this form looks exceptional. Cooldine went on to rout his opposition by a massive 16 lengths in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, whereas Forpadytheplasterer won the Arkle at the same venue, beating Kalahari King who won impressively at Aintree last weekend. Trafford Lad has been given a nice break and should be fresh enough to run with immense credit here and he will go close to winning his third career Group 1 race under Tom Doyle.
Joncol could be the one to trouble the favourite most. He has won impressively on his last two starts over fences and deserves his place in the line-up. He is unbeaten over fences and at this distance and with ground in his favour he should make a good first of it. Last time out at Naas, he duly bolted up under Ruby Walsh where he jumped and travelled beautifully before extended away without being asked a serious question. He looks a classy horse and has plenty more to offer being just a six-year-old. Paddy Flood is a very experienced big-race jockey in Ireland and if Joncol is fresh enough since his last run then he could retain his impressive records over fences.
Golden Silver looks the pick of Willie Mullins' four runners, with Ruby Walsh choosing to ride this one. He was somewhat disappointing in the Arkle in March, finishing well down the field. Before that, he won well at Leopardstown in a Grade 1 2m Chase despite being seemingly unfancied under Paul Townend. He jumped well that day and clung on bravely to deny Forpadytheplasterer, form which has been described above. If he is all fine and well after his poor run at Cheltenham then he has the form to go well under Ruby here.
Aran Concerto is arguably the most interesting horse in the race for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry. Despite being an eight-year-old, he is very lightly raced and clearly possesses a lot of ability but has also had his problems. He has only had one run over fences and won in the style of smart horse, jumping well in the main and clearing away to an easy victory. Before that run in November, he had been off for 20 months with tendon injury and it is obvious that after a couple of recent withdrawals that Noel Meade does not want to rush his star back too soon. However, It is a hint that Meade has chosen to place him here despite just one run over fences and not worrying about gaining experience elsewhere. If he is fit and ready to go, he may well prove to all that he is about to make up for lost time.
Of the remainder, Mullins' holds the key. Deutschland is the mount of Paul Townend and comes into the race off the back of two very easy novice chase wins. He is very versatile and is a dual-purpose horse but looks to have it all to do up in grade here. Jayo has a three-month layoff to overcome as well as putting a poor performance in the race in which Golden Silver won firmly behind him. Before this, he looked a useful prospect and Cheltenham was on the agenda but his disappointing run ruined the plans. He has won over the distance before but may find the ground a little too quick for him.
Selections: 1st - Trafford Lad, 2nd - Joncol, 3rd - Aran Concerto.
Result - 1st - Aran Concerto, 7/2, 2nd - Barker, 10/1, 3rd - Deutschland, 15/2.
This race did not disappoint and it proved to be a ding-dong battle all the way to the line with many challenges still alive heading over the last but it was Aran Concerto who came out on top. Joncol was withdrawn on account of the ground which paved the way for Trafford Lad to win but it was to be far from it as he could only finish a close-up fourth. Aran Concerto jumped well through and loomed up going ominously well under Paul Carberry and after two solid jumps up the straight he just held on. It is hoped that now he is over his problems he can fulfil all of his potential for Noel Meade, who admitted that he could be the best he has trained. Barker, the outsider of Willie Mullins' four-strong team, took up the running rounding the final bend and kept going all the way to the line but just failed in his bid. Deutschland gave Paul Townend a cracking ride and was another to give it his all and ran on into third. Trafford Lad made an error at the fence six from home, causing him to lose some momentum and disrupt his rhythm. To his credit he kept on for Tom Doyle but could not muster any more after the last and gave in to the three in front of him. Golden Silver ran a poor race as did Jayo, who could need softer ground.
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