Ryan dreaming of Draycott shock John Ryan is hoping Draycott Place can cause a shock in the Grade Two Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The Templemore handler has a high opinion of the Oscar gelding and believes we are only now starting to see his full potential. The five-year-old was a impressive winner of his final point-to-point start last November but failed to shine on his first few starts under Rules, though he was not disgraced at Grade One level at Leopardstown in February before posting an eye-catching run when staying on to finish third in a Grade Two event at Thurles later that month. "He's a proper horse. I didn't want him winning a maiden. Unless he won a Grade One or Two, I wanted him as a novice for next year," said Ryan. "He has a great pedigree and looks a special horse. We ran him in a one-mile-five-furlong schooling hurdle at Fairyhouse last Friday week, with Paul Carberry on, and he won really well. "He was the highest rated four-year-old point-to-pointer in the country but got sick and it took a long time to get him right. His coat and all is coming now. It was very difficult to get him there but I think I have him right. I'm very confident of a big run. "The penny is just starting to drop with him. He had no major bumper campaign and is just a baby." The two-mile event looks a high competitive contest and Willie Mullins saddles a trio of contenders. Wicklow Brave, who ran well for a long way in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, appears to set the standard. The champion trainer is also represented by Valseur Lido, who was behind Wicklow Brave in the Supreme, and City Slicker who proved a touch disappointing at Naas last time. City Slicker's owner, JP McManus, is also represented by the Noel Meade-trained Waxies Dargle and Tony McCoy gets the leg up on the Sakhee gelding. The five-year-old hasn't run since taking a strong looking maiden at the track in January. "He's a nice horse. He has a bit to find at the ratings and it looks a very competitive race," said Meade. "He's a horse we like and he'll like the soft ground. I think he's one for the future." Tony Martin has always had a sweet spot for Quickpick Vic and he bids to prove his worth after unseating Paul Carberry at Naas last month when weakening out of contention. "He's a good horse and on his day I think he's in that league so we're prepared to go and have a shot," said Martin. "He was fine after the last day and we've been quite happy with him since."
