Stoneville's solid credentials

Rest of Irish Racing Preview : It's not often a steeplechase star like Beef Or Salmon, ridden for the first time by Andrew McNamara…

Rest of Irish Racing Preview: It's not often a steeplechase star like Beef Or Salmon, ridden for the first time by Andrew McNamara in place of the injured Paul Carberry, takes part in a €30,000 hurdle but that's the case in today's Fairyhouse opener.

Trainer Michael Hourigan is looking at the Racing Post in Ireland Hurdle as a confidence restorer for Beef Or Salmon ahead of the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown and in that light it may be best to bank on Stoneville actually winning the race.

Tony McCoy's mount is regarded as a future star chaser by the JP McManus team and this three-mile trip should bring out the best in him.

McCoy could also strike in the McManus colours aboard King Johns Castle who reverts from fences in the handicap hurdle.

READ SOME MORE

The Arthur Moore-trained horse would possibly prefer more of a dig in the ground but, with the top-weight Good Thyne Jack trying to regain the winning thread, King Johns Castle looks to have got in on an attractive weight.

Moore has an enviable record at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and could have a very good day indeed with Tiger Cry fancied to follow up last year's win in the second hurdle and Well Tutored, who only made it to the 10th fence at Aintree nine days ago, likely to go well in the two and a half mile handicap chase.

Oodachee has only ever managed to win once over hurdles and that was almost three years ago at Sligo. The conditions of the third hurdle look ideal for him though and his 135 rating is hard to argue with in this company.

Call Bewleys, a 20-length point-to-point winner at Tinahely in January, is owned by the Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary who sponsors the bumper and will, no doubt, be keen to win his own race.

At Cork the veteran sprinter Miracle Ridge could be a bet to record an unusual double in the six-furlong handicap.

The 11-year-old won this in 2002 off a mark of 72 when trained by Jim Gorman but today runs off a rating almost two and a half stone lower.

Obviously age has taken its toll but Miracle Ridge won on the Southwell all-weather in February and will have a fitness edge on most of these.

Our Jaffa could reverse Lincoln placings with Bawaaader off these weights in the mile handicap while Mick Kinane looks a significant booking for Miss Donovan in the second maiden.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column