Meath gaa fairyhouse raceday sold out

Meath GAA Co Board will host their second annual raceday at Fairyhouse on Sunday and they couldn't have selected a better day than the Bar One-sponsored day.

Last year's inaugural raceday was a huge success and this year's is already sold out.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse said - “We are delighted with the quality of the entries for the weekend’s cards and a very favourable weather forecast. With corporate hospitality almost at capacity, we can confidently look forward to another big weekend. The ground at Fairyhouse is currently yielding to soft.”

From a racing perspective, seven horses, including Annie Power, Jetson and Tiger Roll, have stood their ground for the €80,000 Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, one of the three Grade 1 races at the Premier Jump Racing Weekend.

All Grade 1 winners last season, the illustrious trio are likely to be joined by Lieutenant Colonel which has been supplemented for the two miles and four-furlong contest.

Zaidpour is a three-time Grade 1 winner and remains in the race as does the much-improved Little King Robin and the Tipperary Grade 3 winner King Of The Picts.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins said - “Annie Power should make her first appearance for the season in the Bar One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. We spent a long time thinking about it, but we felt that there were more opportunities over hurdles for her and that’s the route we have chosen to take, rightly or wrongly. We think she’s in good shape and she has form over this course and possibly this distance, so she will take her chance.”

“When you look at More Of That which beat her at Cheltenham, he is still unbeaten and is a star. But on this side of the Irish Sea we think ours are better and don’t look at the opposition, but obviously More Of That is one hell of a horse.'

Similarly, there is no shortage of class in the €75,000 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase for which 17 stand their ground.

The Tullow Tank, trained by Sandra Hughes, was an impressive winner on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Valseur Lido was equally good on his first run over fences at Punchestown and Noel Meade's Apache Stronghold was impressive at Down Royal last time.

The €75,000 Grade 1 Bar One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle has attracted 12 entries and is shaping up to be fascinating renewal. Willie Mullins looks to hold a strong hand and he could be represented by the Cork winner Nichols Canyon with French imports Allez Colombieres and Max Dynamite in the race as well.

No More Heroes, a wide margin winner on his first start over hurdles at Punchestown, looks set to represent Gordon Elliott while Dermot Weld could run his Navan winner Tandem. All Hell Let Loose was impressive at Galway last month and the more experienced Draco is a two-time winner over hurdles and may line up for Aidan O’Brien.

Barney O’Hare, Managing Director of sponsors Bar One Racing said, “We could not be happier with the entries we have received. There is no shortage of top-class horses in our races headed by Grade 1 winners Annie Power, Jetson and The Tullow Tank and everyone here at Bar One Racing is looking forward to a great day at Fairyhouse.”

The Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace prices;
Annie Power 1/5
Jetson 5/1
Zaidpour 7/1
Little King Robin 10/1
Tiger Roll 12/1
Lieutenant Colonel 16/1
King Of The Picts 40/1