Five dark horses it could pay to follow at Fairyhouse this weekend

David Jennings casts his eye over five potential dark horses lurking in the pack ahead of Fairyhouse's stellar two-day Winter Festival this weekend. . .

Saturday

Idas Boy
3.15 Fairyhouse

Idas Boy was beaten on his first start for Noel Meade in a Clonmel bumper earlier this month, but it could prove that he was defeated by a top-notch rival.

Tactical Move had experience on his side after a fine first run and Idas Boy made him pull out all the stops. Indeed Meade's five-year-old looked the most likely winner early in the home straight. The pair stretched 24 lengths clear of the third.

Noel Meade: has a nice prospect in Idas BoyCredit: Patrick McCann

The way Patrick and Willie Mullins spoke about Tactical Move afterwards suggests he could turn out to be a Grade 1 performer over hurdles, so it will be disappointing if Idas Boy cannot go one better on Saturday.

Sunday

Cerberus
12.30 Fairyhouse

A Wave Of The Sea may be the number one hope from the Joseph O'Brien stable in the opening Grade 3 juvenile hurdle on Sunday, but Cerberus gets 4lb from his stablemate and could cause an upset.

The gelded son of Iffraaj was a neck behind A Wave Of The Sea on his hurdling debut at Punchestown in October but took a giant leap forward next time, putting 19 lengths between himself and Red Gerry in a maiden hurdle on the inside track at Fairyhouse.

He posted an RPR of 137 there and the way in which he handled the heavy ground suggests conditions will be very much in his favour here. He should be hard to beat.

Killer Miller
2.05 Fairyhouse

We have not seen a lot of Killer Miller in the last few years – he has made just six appearances since beating Bonny Kate in a beginners' chase at Naas in 2015 – but there were encouraging signs on his return from a 252-break at Punchestown earlier this month.

He was held up out the back by Jonathan Moore but picked off a few on the final circuit and stayed on into fourth behind Freewheelin Dylan, beaten 13 lengths.

There ought to be loads of improvement to come and 3m5f around Fairyhouse on soft ground for the Porterstown Chase is just what the doctor ordered.

Ilikedwayurthinkin
3.10 Fairyhouse

Who knows how far this five-year-old can go. He was a winning favourite twice during the Galway festival, at odds of 2-1 and 5-6, and his mark has soared from 111 to 132. That rating might still underestimate him.

The valuable bareoneracing.com Handicap Hurdle on Sunday looks a red-hot affair and Buildmeupbuttercup could be chucked in off a mark of 128, but wherever he finishes, Ilikedwayurthinkin is one for the notebook and could bag a big pot before the season draws to a close.

Ferny Hollow
3.40 Fairyhouse

Willie Mullins won the nightcap on Sunday with Outlander (2012), Lucky Pass (2015) and Getabird (2016) and it would come as little surprise should he make it four wins in the last decade with the Cheveley Park-owned Ferny Hollow.

Willie Mullins: has a fine record in the concluding bumper at FairyhouseCredit: Patrick McCann

All the right noises seem to be coming out of Closutton about Ferny Hollow and Mullins was complimentary in his Racing Post stable tour too, saying: "He's a really nice sort and will run in a bumper at Fairyhouse next month."

The fact he had already pencilled in this bumper speaks volumes and it was hard not to be impressed with the way he won a four-year-old maiden point at Knockanard by 15 lengths for Colin Bowe.

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