RACING:EDWARD O'GRADY has engaged Tony McCoy's services for Sailors Warn at Ascot today as the Co Tipperary trainer pursues a bumper pay-off in the Ladbroke Hurdle.
The Ascot highlight is worth almost €177,000 in total and Sailors Warn is the sole Irish raider in a likely field of 17 that sees McCoy’s great rival Ruby Walsh on board the favourite Prospect Wells. British champion trainer Paul Nicholls also saddles the topweight Brampour off whom Harry Derham claims 7lb.
Prospect Wells has just three runs over hurdles under his belt and Walsh said yesterday: “You’d love more runs but more runs means a higher handicap (mark) and you have to try and exploit the mark you are on. I was very impressed with him at Newbury.”
Today’s home action at Fairyhouse sees Paul Townend return to action and substitute for Walsh on a number of Willie Mullins runners. Townend is on the Galway Plate heroine Blazing Tempo who lines up for a conditions hurdle against a couple of other smart chasers in See U Bob and Western Charmer who finished runner up to Organisedconfusion in the Irish National last Easter. All three have 123 ratings over flights but although Blazing Tempo was fortunate to win at Clonmel last time she is just preferred on her return to hurdles.
Townend can also strike in the longer Beginners Chase on Up The Beat while the handicap chase could be a good opportunity for Andrea’s Answer.
The mare exited at the last in the race won by Miss Pepperpot at Thurles last month and may be better suited to testing ground than the Limerick winner Hidden Present. Perfect Smile has entries at both weekend fixtures but could face a tough task if appearing today against Byerley Bear whose chase form to date gives him the winning of the shorter Beginners.
Robert Thornton has been told he could be on the sidelines for three months with the broken arm he suffered in a fall at Hereford last Sunday.
Thornton needed to have an operation on the injury earlier this week and expert consultant Richard Keys has given him the bad news. The jockey said on Twitter: “Mr Keys has just told me 3 months out. I could cry again. Still aiming for 6-7 weeks. I have something to prove again!”
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