Racing Fairyhouse preview: Such are the vagaries of the Irish climate, for very different reasons, would-be runners at this October Fairyhouse National Hunt Fixture have been confined to their stables for the second year in a row.
Whereas the meeting had to be abandoned 12 months ago because of waterlogging, now the situation is that the card has been decimated by the continuance of firm ground.
All told there are only 58 declared runners, more or less matching what happened at Cork when the Sunday Jackpot Pool barely reached the a2,000 mark.
Those in charge of some major jumping stables, including Noel Meade, report that their horses are several weeks short of fitness but it's doubtful whether Meade will qualify for much sympathy as he has managed to declare runners in all seven races today.
At Cork on Sunday he saddled Good Vintage to give a chunk of weight and a decisivie beating to Mandys Gold. Now he opposes that mare with Fable in the Membership at Fairyhouse Handicap Chase. Fable was rated 5lb below Good Vintage prior to the weekend so Meade has a very clean line as to what will be required.
He should also win the first and last races with Compostello (2.30) and Top Ben (5.30). Compostello appeared fit enough for his first chase outing at Thurles but even so the placed run behind Lifes A Flyer, atoning for a Listowel flop, should have sharpened him up.
Likewise the first run of Top Ben promised more than he delivered next time. At Roscommon he had been a very credible third to Jidiya whose trainer, John Kiely, has had his best haul of bumper races this year.
Meade has a memorable record with juvenile hurdles but while Young Vintage improved on his second attempt it is impossible to get away from Joe Crowley's Blue Corrig who finished in front of Meade's horse at Gowran Park. He is, to date, the best quality recruit from flat racing.
Arthur Moore, one of those whose horses are behind time, runs the French importation Blanc C'Est Blanc today and it could be a toss-up between him and Blue Corrig's stablemate Fatherofthebride in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners Novice Hurdle. His bumper and maiden hurdle wins at successive Galway meetings marked him out as a horse to follow.
