The third and final day of Fairyhouse‘s Easter meeting comes to a climax with Kerry Lee’s Top Gamble (3.55) fancied to give his handler yet further success in this afternoon’s feature G2 Normans Grove Chase. Kerry took over the reins from father Richard in the summer and has enjoyed a tremendous first season in charge, winning the Welsh National with Mountainous earlier in the campaign at Chepstow and earning a first G1 success with Kylemore lough in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Top Gamble can give the handler further success at the track and makes his first run since lowering the colours of former Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. He missed Cheltenham in order to get his preferred soft ground this afternoon and is a confident selection to make all under Richard Johnson.
Unexposed sorts have a tremendous record in the feature 3m Handicap Hurdle and, after finishing last of five last time out in the G1 Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle, Eddie Harty’s Coney Island (4.30) can make a winning handicap debut under regular partner Barry Geraghty. The selection made it third time lucky over hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas, and was far from disgraced last time out when thrown in at the deep end. The 5-y-o remains open to much further improvement and should improve for the step up in trip.
Desoto County (5.05), much like Coney Island, missed out on running at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and can gain scant consolation in this afternoon’s 2m Handicap Hurdle. The selection was the ante-post favourite for the County Hurdle prior to failing to scrape in at the foot of the weights and remains well-treated from a mark of 130.
Hexham host their first meeting of 2016 where Rode Dobbin’s Proud Gamble (2.30) can bounce back in the 2m 4f Handicap Chase under Craig Nichol. The selection has progressed in Novices’ Handicap Chases throughout the winter and came good at the fourth time of asking this term two starts back at Musselburgh. A line can go through last month’s effort at Kelso when the gelding never went a yard up at Kelso and he should remain competitive from a 3lb lower mark.
The Malcolm Jefferson yard have sprung into life over the past fortnight, operating at a 40% strike-rate, and can taste further success with Gully’s Edge (3.05) in the 3m Novices’ Hurdle under Brian Hughes. The selection made a pleasing debut over timber last time out at Catterick when returning from a short break and should strip fitter for the run to make it second time lucky over hurdles.
Hughes can double-up aboard Irish raider Dubai Devils (3.40) in the feature handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection has been second on his last three starts over timber and was a beaten favourite when well-supported in the market prior to chasing home Liz Doyle’s One Can Cally a fortnight ago at Gowran Park. He must go close on handicap debut from an opening mark of 112.
Evan Williams‘ Aqua Dude (3.30) blotted his copybook when unseating last month at Southwell but should make amends returning to the scene of the crime. The selection looked to have the race at his mercy when unseating jockey Paul Moloney at the last and, stepped up to two and a half miles, should take some beating barring a similar mishap.
Chris Gordon’s Love Destination (4.40) bolted-up on Plumpton‘s richest ever raceday on Sunday and should be able to follow-up under a 7lb penalty. The mare has been a revelation this term, winning all three starts on soft to heavy ground, and is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to her five rivals under regular pilot David Noonan.
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