Concertista will be expected to open her account in the 50th Irish Grand National Mares Maiden Hurdle at today’s meeting in Fairyhouse.
Willie Mullins, who has saddled no less than ten winners over the last three racing days, pitched the five-year-old in at the deep end back in March when asking her to make her hurdling debut in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
And, ridden by Danny Mullins, she ran a cracker, edging ahead over the final flight before being collared on the line by her stablemate Eglantine Du Seuil in a thrilling finish.
The victor that day has a rating of 140 and, although needing the run, ran creditably to finish third to stablemate Stormy Ireland in a listed event at Punchestown on Sunday emphasising the merit of the selection’s Cheltenham effort.
Expected to make her mark over the coming months, Concertista gets the vote to beat Paul Nolan’s unexposed mare Earthiest Words, a creditable second to the very smart Minella Melody in Cork recently and set to receive 8lb. from the selection, plus the 5lb. claim of hugely talented claimer Sean O’Keeffe.
Mullins might also triumph with lightly-raced Annamix in the INH Stallion Owners Novice Hurdle.
A bit of a talking horse early in his career, Annamix was beaten by Press Conference on his eagerly-awaited Irish debut in Limerick before beating Raya Time in a Clonmel maiden last March.
Today, Paul Townend’s mount might prove too strong for Battle Of Midway.
The Mullins runner in the Christmas Parties@Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle, Unexcepted, off the track for more than two years, is a half-brother to smart two-mile chaser Great Field and worthy of note.
But, making his Irish debut, he might struggle to cope with Gordon Elliott’s The Very Man.
Peter O'Hehir's tips for Fairyhouse
12.35. Charlie Stout (Nap)
1.05. Doran the Legend
1.35. Annamix
2.05. The Very Man
2.35. Concertista
3.05. Lovely Carrig
