Entries for the Fairyhouse Winter Festival's three Grade Ones were revealed today, with a plethora of star-studded names totalling 83 entries for the highlights of the two-day meeting. The Drinmore Novice Chase, the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, all of which are sponsored by Bar One Racing, make for a potentially mouth-watering second day of the meeting on Sunday, November 30th.
Paul Nicholls has entered American Trilogy for the race, and the all-conquering Somerset handler is also well represented in the Bar One Drinmore and the Bar One Hatton's Grace. His Tolworth Hurdle winner Breedsbreeze and Kicks For Free, so impressive on his chasing debut at Aintree, feature among 33 entries for the Bar One Drinmore, which numbers a strong Irish contingent at this stage.
Edward O'Grady, who won the race last year with Sky's The Limit, has entered Tranquil Sea, and the Tipperary trainer reports his six-year-old on track for Fairyhouse after his win at Cork last weekend: "Tranquil Sea has come out of Sunday's race well and the plan is to run in the Drinmore ? that's the next logical step. It's always a good race and, as he has won his last three races over the two-and-a-half-mile trip, it's the ideal race for him." Cooldine, Aran Concerto and Trafford Lad could add further strength to the home defence.
Nicholls' Elusive Dream is one of two British-trained entries in the Hatton's Grace, with the JP McManus-owned Franchoek the other. Worth ?90,000, as are the other two prestigious Grade Ones, the two-and-a-half-mile hurdle is full of quality horses. The 2007 winner Aitmatov and Muirhead figure for Meade, while former Champion Hurdle heroes Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace are also among the 18 possibilities.
Dessie Hughes reported of the latter: "Hardy Eustace will either go to Fairyhouse for the Hatton's Grace or to Ascot the week before. He's in at Navan this Sunday and, if the ground is suitable, he may go there: if he does, he'll probably then go to Fairyhouse." Sweet Kiln, caught on the line twelve months ago when seeking to give the Bowe family their seventh win in the race, is again among the entries.
Asked about arrangements for his candidates, Paul Nicholls said: "I've no definite plans, but the options are there. Breedsbreeze runs on Saturday at Wincanton. If everything goes right there, it's a nice gap to the Drinmore, so he could be one of the more likely ones to travel at this stage."
