Top female jockeys gather at Fairyhouse

The Today FM Ladies Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse is open to horses rated just 0-109 but the inaugural running of the race will have a huge following having attracted Cheltenham winners Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry along with professional jockeys Rachael Blackmore and Lizzie Kelly.

Walsh and Carberry are household names but recently-turned-professional Blackmore has herself done well recently, along with British-based Kelly, recently touched off by Thousand Stars, by a nose, in the Grade One Grand Prix D'Automne at Autueil.

The contest has attracted a dozen runners with Walsh partnering top-weight On The Shannon, a winner at Naas on November 7, the same day Kelly was just denied her top-level prize. Kelly rides Paddy Neville's Rightville Boy, fourth to On The Shannon latest.

Nina Carberry is on board Coolnagorna Giggs for Gordon Lord Byron's trainer Tom Hogan, while Blackmore steers Better B Quick, third over course and distance last time out.

Prominent amateur jockey Jane Mangan, cruelly denied in the 2013 Foxhunters on Oscar Delta, rides Derrychrin, who has his first run since May.

Fairyhouse general manager Peter Roe said: "We're delighted to have 12 runners declared for the first all-female chase under Rules to be run in Ireland. It has exceeded our expectations. We're looking forward to an exciting race with the best lady jockeys from Ireland and Britain."

The supporting card features the more valuable 16,000 Tickets At fairyhouse.ie Rated Novice Chase with eight of the 12 runners proving successful on at least one of their last four starts.

The Pat Griffin-trained Captain Hox has fared best, winning twice from his last three starts, but now makes his chase debut and takes on the more experienced Topper Thornton, a winner last time out at Down Royal.

The expected return from injury of Davy Russell is due to happen at the fixture and the dual champion jockey has solid prospects of winning the Fairyhouse Membership 2016 Now Available Maiden Hurdle with the Gordon Elliott-trained Space Cadet.

Space Cadet was an unlucky-in-running second at Down Royal latest and might prove too strong for the Willie Mullins-trained hurdling newcomer Up For Review.

By Tom Weekes