Pic D’Orhy can spoil Fakir D’oudairies’ hat-trick bid in the Marsh Chase at Aintree on Friday.
Both horses have the fact that they missed Cheltenham in their favour, but it is not being controversial to say Fakir D’oudairies has not been at his very best this season.
Joseph O’Brien’s stalwart does have a win in a Thurles Grade Two to his name, in which he had the reopposing French Dynamite in behind, but he was handed that on a plate with the fall of Haut En Couleurs.
He was subsequently beaten a long way by Shishkin at Ascot and admittedly so was Pic D’Orhy in the same race, but at least he led Shishkin to the second last.
Pic D’Orhy has been much improved this season and while all his best form over fences is right-handed, he did win a Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, so it appears a flat track is the crucial factor for Paul Nicholls’ charge.
The race over the National fences today is the 30-runner Randox-sponsored Topham Chase in which Kerry Lee’s Demachine should give punters a run for their money at a big price.
He tends to go well fresh, so it is a bonus he has not run since January and he is just the sort of horse who should take well to the unique test, given he likes to race prominently and is a solid jumper.
Lee has been among the winners of late and this lightly-raced nine-year-old was classy enough to finish second in the Reynoldstown as a novice.
He won a valuable prize at Uttoxeter back in May, yet three subsequent defeats mean he races off just 1lb higher.
Fergal O’Brien has enjoyed his best ever season numerically but he could do with a real headline horse and Hullnback could just be that.
He dips his toe into Grade One company for the first time in the Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle.
Rather than his most recent piece of form advertising his claims – a very easy win at Warwick it was the run before which marked him out as very useful.
He beat Lee’s Nemean Lion at Haydock in November and that one has gone on to be third in the Tolworth and win Kelso’s Premier Novices’ Hurdle.
Dan Skelton’s Playful Saint could still be well treated in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old was only having the seventh run of his life when third in the Imperial Cup, when the very heavy ground bogged him down. As long as the going is not too testing, he can get involved.
Stay Away Fay was a very determined winner of the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham but he is unlikely to be gifted an easy lead in the Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
Prior to Cheltenham, Stay Away Fay was beaten by the Donald McCain-trained Maximilian at Doncaster and he is taken to confirm that form.
A prolific winner, he showed a great attitude having been off the bridle a long way out and the long home straight will really suit him.
The combination of Jamie Codd and first-time cheekpieces make Go Dante of interest in the closing Abersoch Land And Sea Handicap Hurdle.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Pic D’Orhy (3.30: Aintree)
DOUBLE Demachine (4.05: Aintree)
TREBLE Hullnback (2.55: Aintree)
YANKEE Playful Saint (2.20: Aintree)
