The Irish Angle: Johnny Ward's top tips for the Easter programme
By Johnny Ward
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Johnny Ward in Dublin
Good Friday was not so good for us Irish racing fans pursuing a fixture to attend but we cannot complain too much with the weekend ahead as Saturday heralds the start of a three-day extravaganza.
Cork races on the Flat on Saturday, and over jumps Sunday. However, the weekend centres around the Irish National meeting at Fairyhouse, with the field fighting it out for an incredible prize of €500,000.
Saturday tips:
3.20 Cork: On The Go Again at a general 13-8
Johnny Ward
Finished: 4thSP: 11/8
It was a terrific success for the Mick Mulvany barn when On The Go Again won the Lincoln in convincing fashion last Sunday, landing a gamble in doing so. It is slightly surprising to see him turn out under a week later, but it can pay off.
Given this horse’s hurdling exploits, he will not be too perturbed by carrying top weight here on the Flat.
He steps up over a couple of furlongs, but should canter through the race and looks a more probable stayer than Aussie Valentine, who was third to him at Naas and now has a chance of reversing that form at revised weights.
On The Go Again is clearly in excellent shape at home to be running again so soon.
3.55 Cork: Shareva at a general 5-2
Johnny Ward
Finished: 2ndSP: 2/1
Dermot Weld is fortunate to have the freelance rider Declan McDonagh available to step in as Pat Smullen fights his battle with a tumour.
In my time in racing, I struggle to recall anything that has hit the racing family like the news of Smullen’s illness, testament to how well-liked the Rhode rider is.
McDonagh is an underappreciated jockey in my view and he can showcase his talents on the Aga Khan's filly here.
While stallion Rip Van Winkle has not set the world alight, he has helped produce some smart performers, and this filly is a half-sister to Group Twp winner Shamreen, as well as two other winners, out of a scorer at Group Three level.
Weld knows how testing the ground is here and her debut third at Gowran was a fine start, considering how tough that track is for a debutante.
Sunday tips:
3.20 Fairyhouse: Duc Des Genievres
Johnny Ward
Finished: 5thSP: 2/1
Duc Des Genievres was not unfancied behind Samcro in the Ballymore. He ran a decent race to finish fifth considering his inexperience and this represents a dramatic drop in class.
The French import chased home Next Destination and Cracking Smart on his Irish debut over this distance at Naas and either that run, or his subsequent second to Samcro, gives him every chance now for his in-form barn.
Blow By Blow is up to a mark of 152 after his handicap win at the Festival, but he faced nothing of the class of the grey then.
3.55 Fairyhouse: Bon Papa
Johnny Ward
Finished: 2ndSP: 3/1
Bon Papa is a gorgeous son of Network – the sire of Sprinter Sacre seems to get his share of lookers – and his story in my view remains untold.
Experiments over staying distances have always failed, corroborating my opinion to some extent that he is a two-miler who needs a proper test over that trip, which he will pretty much get in this novice event.
Bon Papa won his bumper at Fairyhouse and his maiden chase at Punchestown, when he travelled like a smart horse.
His third to Shattered Love at Leopardstown at Christmas is eye-taking form, especially as he did not get the three-mile trip after travelling powerfully.
Monday tip:
5.00 Fairyhouse: Pairofbrowneyes at 15-2 with Betfair
It is surely one of the greatest anomalies in racing that neither Gordon Elliott nor Willie Mullins has saddled the winner of the Irish National. Expect that to change on Monday at Fairyhouse.
Elliott will have more than another man’s entire yard in the race but Mullins looks to have better chances, specifically with Pairofbrowneyes, who seems to have little to prove other than stamina.
The Luso gelding’s former trainer, Barry Murphy, has saddled a single winner from 82 runners in the past five seasons so it was to be expected that he would improve under the champion trainer, for whom he bolted up on his first start last month at Gowran.
A penalty ought not stop him, with the only slight niggle being his ability to get home.
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