Three horses to follow at Fairyhouse on Wednesday

Ireland provides just one of the four meetings taking place on Wednesday and we have an eight-race National Hunt fixture from Fairyhouse to look forward to.

The action kicks off at 12.55 and runs through to the finale at 4.25 and we have selections and analysis for three of the races on Wednesday’s card.

Conditions are set to be very testing at Fairyhouse, with the going heavy on the hurdles course and the chase course being soft to heavy in places, which will be an important consideration.

Selections

12.55 Fairyhouse - Paggane

There are 11 declared runners in this mares’ beginners chase and Willie Mullins trains five of them, which means it’s likely that the winner will be a Closutton inmate.

Paul Townend rides Paggane and the six-year-old doesn’t have much to find on the evidence of her most recent effort.

It’s worth noting that she finishes second a lot and there’s a case to be made that there’s a reason for that, but this looks like a good opportunity to get her head in front.

She stuck to her task well to finish runner-up behind Bioluminescence in a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas and a repeat performance is likely to be enough.

Grade 3 winner and useful yardstick Shecouldbeanything was six lengths behind her back in third, which means that the form looks pretty solid.

That was just her first start over fences and it took a couple of jumps for her to warm up. You can be sure the experience won’t be lost on her and she looks like the one to side with, having been dropped in grade.

1.25 Fairyhouse - Rochestown

Rochestown returned to winning ways on heavy ground over hurdles at Tramore last time out and another big run could be on the cards now returning to the larger obstacles.

The handicapper responded with a 10lb rise, which doesn't look unreasonable after that very comfortable success. He doesn’t have the assistance of a 7lb claim from his jockey this time around but the fact that Sean Flanagan takes the ride perhaps suggests that connections feel he doesn’t need it.

Brendan Walsh's 10-year-old also scored on his last start over fences last April so there's nothing to fear upon his return to this sphere.

His two heavy-ground successes have come by a combined margin of 17 lengths, which suggests he could have a big advantage in these conditions.

1.55 Fairyhouse - Sa Majeste

Another one for the all-conquering Willie Mullins, Sa Majeste was an easy winner of a hurdle race at Limerick in December 2023 when he had Grand National winner Noble Yeats back in second.

It looked like he could be well-in when well fancied for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham after that but he was a little disappointing in the end and was well beaten.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was a narrow winner over fences when upped to just shy of three miles at Tipperary on his penultimate start and he was beaten by some smart horses when fifth in a Grade 1 behind Impaire Et Passe at Limerick.

This race definitely looks easier and he’s unexposed over three miles, making this an excellent opportunity to get back on track.

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