DUNGUIB WILL be the headline act in a triple Grade One card at Fairyhouse on Sunday and the Philip Fenton-trained star has been installed a red-hot favourite to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles.
Just seven entries remain in the €85,000 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Hurdle but they include the cream of Ireland’s two-mile novice crop with the likes of Sweeps Hill and Some Present also among the likely starters.
However, last season’s undisputed bumper champion Dunguib is rated well clear by bookmakers ahead of Sunday’s race with William Hill going as low as 2 to 5 about the market leader.
Dunguib is already a 5 to 2 favourite to win again at the Cheltenham festival in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and is also being quoted in ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle with some listing him as low as 16 to 1 for the championship itself.
Jockey Brian O’Connell will kick off his professional career in Sunday’s Grade One and Fenton confirmed that Dunguib is on target to make it three from three over jumps. “Everything is fine with him. I just hope the ground doesn’t get too heavy although we have no control over that. They will be using fresh ground at Fairyhouse, and it will be the first hurdle race on the card, so all going well, we will be there,” the Co Tipperary based trainer said.
“We would love something to go on in the race and make it a nice pace so we can get a lead. I see Tom Mullins has Some Present in the race, and Deise Dan, and I think Some Present would like a nice gallop as well,” Fenton added.
“Apart from the first couple, he jumped a good bit better at Punchestown so he is learning all the time.”
Last year’s winner Catch Me is among the nine entries remaining in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle despite his two starts this season having been over fences.
The Coral Cup winner Ninetieth Minute is a definite starter in the two-and-a-half mile event while Noel Meade has indicated the Morgiana runner-up Muirhead, winner of the Royal Bond two years ago, is a possible runner. Meade also has the option of running Donnas Palm and the 2007 Hatton’s Grace winner Aitmatov.
A notable name among the entries is Hardy Eustace, winner of the 2004 and 2005 Champion Hurdles, who hasn’t run since finishing down the field behind Solwhit at the Punchestown festival.
The biggest Grade One entry for Sunday after yesterday’s forfeit stage was the 15 left in the Drinmore Novice Chase with Noel Meade holding a strong hand with four horses including the highly-rated Pandorama.
Ground conditions at Fairyhouse yesterday were officially “heavy” although no problems are expected for the weekend racing.
However, the weather has claimed an early victim with this Saturday’s scheduled fixture at Wexford cancelled yesterday. The course was waterlogged.
Betting on Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle: 2 Catch Me, 11-4 Muirhead, 13-2 Aitmatov, 8 Ninetieth Minute, Donnas Palm Oscar Dan Dan, 12 Hardy Eustace Shakervilz, 33 Healys Bar.
