Mount Ida and Elimay clash in Mares Chase at Fairyhouse

Cheltenham Festival winner Mount Ida heads the runners for the Listed Download The Boylesports App Mares Chase on the opening day of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival this Saturday.

Successful in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase for Denise Foster and Jack Kennedy, Mount Ida faces four rivals including the Willie Mullins-trained Elimay who was just touched off by her own stable companion Colreevy in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares´ Chase.

Dual Fairyhouse winner Demi Plie lines up for Padraig Roche with Henry de Bromhead saddling both Abbey Magic and Zarkareva.

A full field of 20 is declared for the RYBO Handicap Hurdle with the Robbie Burns-trained Thosedaysaregone set to carry top-weight.

County Hurdle fourth Eclair De Beaufeu is one of four runners in the race for Denise Foster with Foveros and Rauille Buaille among Willie Mullins’ five runners. Henry de Bromhead is represented by Hurricane Cliff and Gua Du Large, while Tom Gibney’s Great Bear is another to note on his first start in a handicap hurdle.

The Timmy Hyde-trained On Eagles Wings leads the 20 runners in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final. He won the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas on his most recent start and faces the likes of the Robert Murphy-trained Darrens Hope which won at the same level at Limerick three weeks ago. Folcano, a course winner in February, is one of three runners for Denise Foster.

Narrowly beaten in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival, Party Central represents Foster in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares Flat Race for which 11 horses have been declared.

Recent winners Derrylinda and Limerick Lace carry the hopes of Gavin Cromwell, while Willie Mullins' Brooklynn Glory has a little to find with the Foster runner on Leopardstown form.

Dual bumper winners Flame Bearer and Letsbeclearaboutit, trained by Pat Doyle and Gavin Cromwell respectively, are among the contenders for the Jetaway.ie At Arctic Tack Stud INH Flat Race.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, said, “We are delighted with the quality of the declarations for the first day of our Easter Festival. It is a very competitive card which includes Cheltenham festival winner Mount Ida and a full field of 20 runners in the Grade A RYBO Handicap Hurdle, headed by recent Dundalk winner Thosedaysaregone. The ground is currently Yielding, Yielding to Soft in places with a mainly dry forecast.”