Fairyhouse Easter Festival 19th - 21st April Rated Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 6m 34.5s

Fil Dor^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| C

15/2

Smart chaser. Six wins from 22 NH runs. Latest win in chase at Thurles in November. 13¼ lengths fourth of 7 to Appreciate It in Kinloch Brae Chase back at that venue (20.9f, good, 11/4) 17 days ago. Possibilities on first crack at 3m.

Form: 3P-2124

Minella Crooner^b1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| C| D

11/1

Returned to form from out of the blue when narrowly winning Pat Taaffe Chase at Punchestown in May. However, he's far from reliable and not been in anything like the same form in pair of starts so far this winter. First-time blinkers replace usual cheekpieces and that could perk him up.

Form: 3PP1-P6

Affordale Fury⁴³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 145| BF| D

2/1

Made up into a decidedly useful staying novice over hurdles in 2023 and perfect start when successful over fences at Galway (22.5f) in October of that year. Absent since pulled up in Grade 2 final start that year but he remains with potential and he's worth a look on return.

Form: F622/15-

Any Second Now^b³¹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 145| C

8/1

One-time top-class chaser, placed in Grand National at Aintree in 2021 (unlucky) and 2022. Down the field in 4 starts initially last term but resurgent when finishing a smashing second in Irish equivalent here in April. No forlorn hope if arriving in same form after 10 months off.

Form: P/78672-

Sa Majeste³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

11/10

Useful winner over hurdles at up to 20f and confirmed chase debut promise when landing 6-runner Tipperary maiden (23.5f) in November. Not in same form when fifth in Limerick Grade 1 (19.5f) 39 days ago but it remains early days with him and this less demanding. Player.

Form: 106-215

Forecasts

Sa Majeste (11/10), Affordale Fury (2/1), Fil Dor (15/2), Any Second Now (8/1), Minella Crooner (11/1)

In a tricky small-field affair the answer could be SA MAJESTE. A winner on his second chase start at Tipperary in November, Willie Mullins' low-mileage 7-y-o will find this less demanding than his latest Grade 1 assignment over Christmas and ought to have more to offer back over this longer trip. Affordale Fury is interesting despite his lengthy absence and is the threat ahead of Fil Dor.