Solerina is set to shine

Racing Fairyhouse Sunday preview: Solerina has some pretty big shoes to fill at Fairyhouse tomorrow in the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle, but the gallant little mare could be up to the job.

A total of 11 horses line up to see who will inherit the Grade One crown that has been almost the private property of the ever-popular Limestone Lad in recent years.

Only Youlneverwalkalone, in 2000, broke Limestone Lad's winning sequence from 1999-02. But with the perennial out of action, permit holder James Bowe just has to walk a few yards to find a replacement.

Despite the shadow of her famous stable companion, Solerina has managed to carve out a reputation of her own and there will be no more popular winner.

Gary Hutchinson is reunited with the mare, who returned to action in the Morgiana earlier in the month and has a length to find with Sacundai on that running.

However, this time there is a further half mile to travel.

"She is not one to show much at home and I don't ask her questions at home, but she seems fine and worked well at the Curragh on Tuesday," said Bowe's son Michael yesterday.

"I suppose it came to the stage with Limestone Lad that we thought this race was nearly easy, but that is definitely not the situation this time.

"It's in races like this that you really miss him.

"But Solerina is like him in that the way to ride her is to drop your hands and go. Gary rode her to win at Punchestown and Thurles and he knows her well," he added.

Sacundai is another to mind himself in the mornings, but since he surprised Edward O'Grady with his Morgiana effort, he has done nothing but please his trainer.

O'Grady said yesterday: "He is very laid back, but fortunately keeps surprising me in the nicest possible way.

"I've every reason to hope he has gone forward for that run, but I don't know for sure except that he is terribly well and I have to be optimistic."

Paddy Power couldn't separate Solerina and Sacundai yesterday making them 7 to 4 joint favourites.

Also re-opposing from the Morgiana is the progressive Scarthy Lad, while Holy Orders, who made himself famous worldwide with his antics in Melbourne, will try to win back Willie Mullins's heart.

Punchestown form from last April gives Holy Orders a first-rate book chance, but Mullins will also be keenly watching how his Champion Hurdle hope Davenport Milenium does on his first start back in almost a year.

However, Solerina's front-running style is ideal for Fairyhouse and, with a run under her belt, she can carry those famous red and green colours to another Hatton's Grace success.

O'Grady will also be focused on the Pierse Drinmore Chase, where his former Cheltenham-winner Pizarro has a second start over fences.

The first of them, at Clonmel 16 days ago, was satisfactory except for an edge to the left on the run-in when the race was won.

"In retrospect he has been known to drift before and I would say it is a quirk of his - a perfectly acceptable quirk," O'Grady said yesterday. "He has had an uninterrupted time since Clonmel, had one nice school and, as they say, he seems up for it."

Pizarro faces much stiffer opposition this time, including Nil Desperandum, who only just held Central House on his chasing debut but who should now strip much fitter.

The other Grade One prize is the Boylesports Royal Bond Hurdle which has produced the Cheltenham festival winners Hardy Eustace and Like-A-Butterfly in the previous two years.

Mullins runs three, with Ruby Walsh on Clounties Hill. Accordion Etoile will try to confirm Navan running against Newmill from earlier in the month.

The Cork-trained Newmill has a length and a half to make up on Accordion Etoile, but back on the track he won the Land Rover Bumper last season, so Newmill could be the value answer.