Grade One Fairyhouse Gold Cup Guide 2023

The sixth of Willie Mullins’ horses in this race is Authorized Art, who finished fourth of seven in the Grade One Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick in December behind the likes of Adamantly Chosen and Gerri Colombe. Off 104 days since.

Had won three straight chases at Limerick, Killarney and Tipperary before fourth in the Drinmore here in December behind winner and favourite for this contest Mighty Potter. Arrives here fresh and could run a good race for Mullins, although it would be a surprise if he was to win this race.

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old gelding Appreciate It travels here for the Fairyhouse Gold Cup after finishing fourth in the Turners’ at Cheltenham last month. Decent third of eight in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in February, behind Banbridge and the impressive El Fabiolo.

Was very good over hurdles for Mullins before being sent chasing and it would be surprising to not see him go close over fences here off 152.

This race is dominated by runners from Willie Mullins’ yard and Flame Bearer is sent here after winning Grade One Chase at Thurles last month by 13 lengths to Upping The Anti. Seventh of eight in the Irish Arkle in February and steps up back into grade one company here following Thurles victory.

This will be tougher but the eight-year-old has won here before and runs for the leading Irish trainer so shouldn’t be dismissed purely on that.

Rachael Blackmore is on board Flanking Maneuver, the eight-year-old who has had two runs over fences for Noel Meade since switching from hurdles. He was third in the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase on debut over fences before third again at Naas in a grade three behind Limerick Lace and Journey With Me over 2m 4f.

May find this tough in grade one company for the first time as well as being inexperienced over fences anyway. One to dismiss.

Willie Mullins sends seven-year-old James Du Berlais here after finishing sixth of seven in the Turners’ at Cheltenham last month. Since winning Fairyhouse beginners chase over 2m 5f on chase debut in January, the gelding hasn’t been able to build on that with sixth-place finishes on both runs since in that Turners’ outing and the Ladbrokes Novice Chase.

Tough ask here for the seven-year-old on the back of that form and would be an unlikely winner here.

Eight-year-old for Willie Mullins who switched to running over fences at Gowran Park in Janaury after four runs over hurdles in 2021/22. 8/11 winner of the Ballymore at Cheltenham last year but ninth of ten in the 3m Brown Advisory won by The Real Whacker at the festival this time around.

Has yet to impress over fences but should have more to give and improvement should be there for a top yard. Could go close.

In-form chaser for Gavin Cromwell who hasn’t finished outside of the top three over fences since falling on debut here over 2m in October. Ran well on only graded outing in Thurles novice behind 1/8fav Allegorie De Vassy in January but was 19 lengths behind the six-year-old who finished second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham last month.

She won a listed event last time out at Thurles, beating Telmesomethinggirl by four lengths and arrives here in arguably better form than some of her rivals here. Is one of the market outsiders but worth a bet each-way for sure.

Top-class chaser Mighty Potter arrives here at the Fairyhouse Gold Cup on the back of a disappointing run in the Grade One Turners’ at the Cheltenham Festival last month, finishing a below-par third behind Notlongtillmay and 15/2 winner Stage Star.

He was previously unbeaten over fences for Gordon Elliott prior to that Cheltenham run and if he is returning to what we saw at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, he will again be the one to beat here. He has also won over this C&D in the past in the Drinmore and can go close again.

150-rated chaser who comes here off the back of finishing seventh of ten in the Grade One Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham last month, behind the likes of winner The Real Whacker, Galia Des Liteaux and Gerri Colombe. Second to Mighty Potter in Ladbrokes Novice Chase and second to Gerri Colombe in grade one over 2m 3f at Limerick in December were both good runs, however.

Looks a tough ask for the gelding to win on the back of that last run but wouldn’t rule him out of finishing in the places for Willie Mullins.