RACING WEEKEND PREVIEWS:RUBY WALSH has hardly put a foot wrong this season but his decision to prefer Golden Silver to Deutschland in tomorrow's opening day feature of the Fairyhouse Festival could prove a rare exception for the champion jockey.
With Willie Mullins saddling four of the 10 starters in the Powers Gold Cup, Walsh hardly faced a straightforward call and Golden Silver is one of only two runners in the €100,000 contest to have a Grade One prize already under their belt over fences.
But Golden Silver, winner of the Irish Arkle in a memorable finish with Forpadydeplasterer, failed to shine in the Cheltenham Arkle and is on something of a recovery mission in this prestigious Easter Sunday highlight.
The same goes for the Drinmore winner Trafford Lad, whose best form ties in with the likes of Cooldine, while Aran Concerto is an intriguing starter under Paul Carberry, who is returning after a month on the sidelines due to injury.
The Powers has a history of throwing up surprise defeats for big names who have failed to carry their form towards the end of the season and an upward profile can be important at this festival.
Joncol is the most obvious example this time, with Paul Nolan’s giant gelding impressing each time over fences to date. The trainer has made a point, though, of outlining how his horse ideally requires a cut in the ground and there is no guarantee of that with an uncertain weather forecast.
In contrast Deutschland is versatile in terms of ground and he is coming here on the back of two easy wins over fences. He has been something of a revelation, in fact, for a horse that fell twice in succession during the winter and Mullins has had tomorrow’s race in mind for some time.
Walsh could have better fortune in the mares novice hurdle where Colm Murphy has engaged the champion for the Grade Three ride on Voler La Vedette.
The Leopardstown winner hasn’t run since Christmas but the trainer said yesterday: “She is a filly who has done nothing but improve. She is a little short on experience but is entitled to take her chance.”
Better ground would suit Browns Baily in the novice handicap hurdle considering he didn’t run too badly behind Weapon’s Amnesty at Cheltenham while Aggie’s Lad should be hard to beat in the Beginners Chase.
