Space Trucker was the hero for many Irish punters when landing the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham and some of those substantial winnings are bound to be played on him in the Oliver Freany & Co Dan Moore Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse today. It should be a successful play, too, if the horse runs.
Heavy showers threatened yesterday to change the ground from good to yielding and Space Trucker's trainer Jessica Harrington would not like the going to change significantly.
Considering Space Trucker's Cheltenham form it would be a pity if he is forced to miss out. Starting 7 to 2 favourite, Space Trucker briefly appeared to be in trouble coming down the hill before finding another gear on the run-in to beat Dines by a length and a half.
Apart from the brief moment of anxiety down the hill the race could not have panned out better for Shay Barry and Jessica Harrington. Placed in a Champion Hurdle, Space Trucker is ideally suited by a late run and a decent surface and today's race could be the first leg of an ambitious double.
Harrington plans to also run her stable star in the Red Rum Chase at Liverpool on Saturday if he comes out of this in good shape.
Despite an 8 lb hike in his rating he should do just that against the first-time blinkered Hill Society and the Fairyhouse specialist Merry Gale who won this Grade Three contest last year.
The other Grade Three race on the card is the O'Dea Novice Hurdle which has attracted just five runners, three of them from the Noel Meade stable. Ted Walsh's Royal Signature managed to win by an easy five lengths at Leopardstown last time despite not doing a stroke in front but Meade should pick up this pot, probably with Winter Garden.
For a 50 to 1 shot, the selection ran a decent race in the SunAlliance at Cheltenham behind Barton, didn't run at all badly behind Alexander Banquet at Leopardstown and couldn't have won any easier than he did at Down Royal. Being a former smart flat horse in France, Winter Garden may prefer better ground but he still has his chance.
Arthur Moore, who came so close to Grand National glory with Feathered Leader on Monday, can strike back with a double today.
Folliday made an encouraging reappearance after a year off the track when a running on third to Donadino at Leopardstown last month and is taken to beat Strong Run in the opening maiden hurdle while Darbela looks the solution to the EBF Mares Championship Final.
She never raised a gallop when starting favourite for a big handicap at Ascot in February but had earlier been a very impressive winner from a decent field at Leopardstown.
Kings Return's jumping is a concern, especially since he fell at Cork over the weekend, but given even an adequate round he will go close in the Beginners Chase.
