Former Cheltenham winner can open chase account

Today's Fairyhouse card provides a curtain-raiser for a fascinating card tomorrow featuring three Grade 1 races, including the Drinmore Chase - often a good guide to the complexion of the Irish novice chasing scene.

Among the seven declared for the Drinmore and the selected of two runners for owner JP McManus is Anibale Fly, who made a bright start to his chase career with a victory over 2m1f at Navan last month. Against that background runner-up Martello Tower looks a good bet to win the opening race on today's (11.55).

Also in action here is Acapella Bourgeois, a talented hurdler who fell at the first on his chase debut in a Naas event won by Noel Meade's Drinmore candidate Road To Respect. However, Martello Tower's opening run should help to give him an edge, particularly as he performed so well over a trip that could hardy have been expected to be adequate for a former winner of the 3m Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Lightly campaigned last season, he has looked a chaser in the making since winning a point-to-point in 2013.