Nolan targets feature ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle

The Paul Nolan-trained See U Bob, who won a exciting renewal of the Leopardstown.com Handicap Hurdle in February, was among the 26 remaining horses after today's forfeits stage in the feature €90,000 Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle that takes pride of place at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.

The Bob Back gelding is a tremendously consistent horse who has been in the first four on his last four outings including another victory at Thurles. On his last outing at Leopardstown he was a head too powerful for Flag Of Honour on soft ground when staying on strongly to lead close home.

The Co Wexford trainer said, "He handles soft ground but I am hoping that he will improve considerably for better ground. He is in very good form and had very good bumper form beating Go Native last year. On the basis of that run he might be nicely handicapped off 119."

Other interesting possibles include the Charles Byrnes-trained Carthalawn, the impressive winner of the Grade 2 paddypowerpoker.com Newlands Chase at Naas in February, and Time Electric, trained by Tom Mullins, the easy eight-length winner of the Ballyhale Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park on April 1.

The form of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham is already looking very strong with the winner American Trilogy coming second in a Grade 2 hurdle at Aintree, Sunnyhillboy and Bedlam Boy (25th and 9th at Cheltenham) finishing first and third in a handicap hurdle at Liverpool, and Culcabock (17th) landing a handicap hurdle at Aintree.

Stradbrook found only American Trilogy too powerful in the County, although he subsequently disappointed at Aintree and Jonjo O'Neill's charge could now bid to make amends by conducting a successful raid from England. Other County contestants who have been left in the Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle include Sesenta (eighth), Sky Hall, who was 13th, Fisher Bridge (18th) and Clopf (27th). Ebaziyan is still among Willie Mullins's three possibles - the son of Daylami was victorious in the 2007 running of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Psycho disappointed on his last outing in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, having put in a brilliant show when second to Penny's Bill in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

His trainer Tony Martin said, "He's okay after Cheltenham and in good form again. He could run in the King Crisps Hurdle on Monday or the Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle, but I don't know which yet and I've got to talk to the owner. I don't know what happened at Cheltenham. It was just one of those things but hopefully he seems in good form now and will put up a good show. He ran very well in the Pierse and has only had a few runs this season."

Colm Murphy has declared Megans Joy, whose last start was when well beaten in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The handler said: "She is very well and has come out of Cheltenham really well. She seems to be coming to herself now. She would appreciate a bit of good ground as all of her winning form has come on it."

Ladbrokes also support the Grade 3 €32,500 Ladbrokes.com Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and a quick look at the 24 entries indicates that racegoers could be in for a vintage renewal. Last year's Irish Champion Hurdle hero Sizing Europe could line up for Henry De Bromhead, Ladbrokes World Hurdle third Powerstation is a possible for Eamonn O'Connell, but also has an entry for the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle on the same card, while Aitmatov, who won the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2007, might take his chance for Meade.

Another intriguing entry is Colm Murphy's Big Zeb, who won the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but will now revert to hurdles having fallen on his last two outings including in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Co Wexford trainer said, "He will run in either the Ladbrokes.com Hurdle or the King Crisps Hurdle on the same card - I don't know which one he'll go for yet and I will probably sit down and have a look later today. He was a little bit sore initially after Cheltenham but is very good now and I'm very happy with him. I want to get a spin into him before Punchestown and as it turns out it will be over hurdles. It will help his confidence and I would imagine he'll go for the two-mile chase at Punchestown."

Returning to Tuesday, the other highlight of the seven-race card is the €80,000 Tattersalls Ireland Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Steeplechase, which has attracted 21 entries, ably supported by the €45,000 Kevin Brady Car Sales Citroen Novice Hurdle, a Grade 2 event that 29 entries are considering taking part in, and the €32,000 Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle, a Grade 3 race which has attracted 17 entries.

The ground at Fairyhouse remains Good to Yielding, Caroline Gray, General Manager Fairyhouse Racecourse said, "We had 2.3 mm of rain on Wednesday evening. The forecast is dry today with rain tonight and in the morning and unsettled weather until Sunday which is expected to be fine."