Reputations on the line at Fairyhouse

WITH all the rainfall we’ve had this week it’s hard to believe that the biggest talking point in British racing at the moment is the lack of rain which has led to some very small fields in major races over jumps.

Cheltenham’s November meeting was badly affected and then last Saturday the card at Ascot was practically ruined when, just minutes before racing started, star performers Constitution Hill, Edwardstone and L’homme Presse were all withdrawn from separate races due to ground conditions being on the ‘quick’ side.

Irish racing can’t afford to sneer. Only four horses ran in last Sunday’s Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, and there were just five and six respectively in the two Grade 2 races at that two-day meeting.

A week from now, the mighty Honeysuckle will reappear at Fairyhouse, aiming to win the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for a fourth time. How many of the other 14 entries will actually take her on?

Connections of her rivals might take heart from the fact that Honeysuckle’s stable companion A Plus Tard ran a stinker at Haydock last Saturday. Maybe Honeysuckle will be vulnerable too?

But remember this mare never lost a race in 15 starts and, unlike A Plus Tard, she has never really been hard-pushed to win in recent seasons. Still only an eight-year-old, she should still be in her prime, so the advice has to be to sit back and enjoy her. This will reportedly be her final season of racing.

The three Grade 1 races at Fairyhouse on Sunday, 4 December will be shown live on RTÉ but it’s well worth making the effort to be there in the flesh, if you can. There’s always a great atmosphere on Hatton’s Grace day and you can be sure you’ll see a few future Cheltenham winners.

Watch out for Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. Owned and trained by successful businessman Barry Connell, this five-year-old has won all three of his starts to-date impressively. Connell says he is the best horse he has ever had, which is saying something as he’s had a few Cheltenham winners.

At Fairyhouse, Marine Nationale is likely to face some hot-shots from the Mullins, Elliott and de Bromhead yards. There will be great pressure on Marine Nationale’s jockey too, 22-year-old Mikey O’Sullivan from Mallow, who only turned professional in September. It should be great viewing.