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Two Grade 1 contests feature on Fairyhouse’s Easter Sunday card, including the Willowwarm Gold Cup Novice Chase (16:55) over two and a half miles. ‘Hot Trainer’ Willie Mullins has won the last five editions, including with both of his dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Al Boum Photo and Galopin des Champs, and has two of the seven runners in this year’s race.
Mullins has strong claims again with Blood Destiny (163p) though may not have things all his own way this time up against Spillane’s Tower (158p), trained by Jimmy Mangan for J. P. McManus. The pair are meeting for the third time with the score between them standing at one apiece.
The slick-jumping Blood Destiny made it two out of three over fences when winning their latest clash in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan last time when jumping into the lead two out and going on to win readily by six and a half lengths from Spillane’s Tower who was conceding him 7 lb. That was over two miles, but in their previous meeting in a Grade 3 novice at Punchestown over just short of two and a half miles, Spillane’s Tower came out on top.
Also the winner of a novice at the same track on his previous start, Spillane’s Tower stayed on to collar long-time leader Blood Destiny on the run-in and was well on top at the finish, winning by two lengths conceding 4 lb to the runner-up. Both horses remain open to improvement, but Spillane’s Tower looks the stronger stayer of the two and, back over this longer trip, he gets the nod to turn the tables on Blood Destiny from their last meeting, especially with conditions likely to put the premium on stamina.
Gordon Elliott’s Saint Felicien (154p) is another improving type and can pick up some place money. He was placed behind some smart types before getting off the mark at the fourth attempt over fences in a beginners chase at Gowran in February when beating Mullins’ Aime Desjy by three and a quarter lengths. He then contested the Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was going as well as anything when brought down after the fourth last.
Mullins’ other runner, the lightly-raced Tactical Move (155+), beat Saint Felicien in another beginners chase at Gowran in January and followed up in a Grade 3 novice at Naas earlier this month when again making the running and having a fair bit in hand in beating Jumping Jet by three lengths.
Elliott is also double-handed here and Zanahiyr (156) merits respect too as the best of these over hurdles, notably finishing third in last season’s Champion Hurdle. He chased home Fact To File on his chasing debut at Leopardstown and then went one better, despite not jumping that fluently, in a beginners chase at Thurles in February. He too ran at Cheltenham last time, running up to his best chase form but not threatening to reach the leaders when a staying-on fourth to Grey Dawning in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
Thecompanysergeant (141) was second in the Grade 2 novice hurdle on this card a year ago but has a tough task here on his third start over fences. He was upsides when falling at the last on his chasing debut at Leopardstown earlier this month and confirmed that promise when a length and a half second to Mullins’ Mister Policeman in a Grade 3 novice at Thurles last time.
Flanking Maneuver (153) won a beginners chase here in October before his best effort this season when fourth in a Grade 1 novice over three miles at Leopardstown, but he was some way behind Blood Destiny and Spillane’s Tower over two miles in the Flyingbolt next time and came down at the first in the race won by Tactical Move at Naas on his latest start.
Timeform analyst’s verdict
The head-to-head between Spillane’s Tower and Blood Destiny stands at 1-1 and they could be the pair to concentrate on. The latter represents the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard (responsible for the last five winners of this Grade 1 contest) and he is not passed over at all lightly. However, Spillane’s Tower appeared to find two miles too sharp in the Flyingbolt and he has a good chance of turning the tables on the winner here. Saint Felicien remains open to improvement and he is third choice.
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings
163p Blood Destiny
158p Spillane’s Tower
156 Zanahiyr
155+ Tactical Move
154p Saint Felicien
153 Flanking Maneuver
141 Thecompanysergeant
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