Can the in-form Dunvegan bag another valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse?

Sunday: 2.20 Fairyhouse
Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade A) | 2m1f, 4yo+ | RTV

This has the makings of a lively betting heat as some Graded-class horses return to handicap company and clash with some in-form rivals lower down the weights.

Dunvegan, winner of the Grade B EasyFix Equine Handicap Chase over just shy of this distance here in late November, is the obvious starting point.

A 7lb higher mark will make life tougher, but the form of that success has been well advertised since by runner-up Grange Walk, who bolted up at Leopardstown over Christmas and reopposes.

A 7lb rise for Grange Walk looks reasonable enough and he should be in the thick of things again if returning in the same form, while Take All, who was third on that occasion, has an attractive profile and gave the impression he could improve for the experience gained then.

Grange Walk: decisive winner at Leopardstown a fortnight agoCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Dunvegan's trainer Pat Fahy is also represented by the 155-rated Castlegrace Paddy, who makes his first start in handicap company having almost exclusively contested Graded races throughout his chase career.

It has been 99 days since he burst a blood vessel in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran and, despite not being open to as much improvement as others considering he's an 11-year-old, he has plenty of class for a race such as this if back on song.

Gordon Elliott found only one too strong when bidding for a fourth consecutive win in this race in 2020, and he relies on the talented Eclair De Beaufeu and Hardline, who both need to bounce back from defeat on their latest starts.

Poseidon: could be a big player if recapturing his best for Charles ByrnesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Capuccimix lacks a recent run, having been absent since July, but he looked a chaser on the up when scoring decisively off 7lb lower last time at Killarney.

Batcio is never one to rule out comfortably when bringing his A-game. However, the ground-versatile Poseidon, who failed to fire when easy to back here last time, gave the impression he could yet have more to offer when beating Grange Walk at Cork in October. He makes most appeal for Charles Byrnes and Sean O'Keeffe.

Townend hoping Blackbow can make Grade 1 experience count

Willie Mullins, who last landed this prize in 2014 with Turban, looks to have solid claims of doing so again with Blackbow, who hasn't been seen since tailing off in the Marsh Novices' Chase last March.

Paul Townend is hoping the experience the Grade 2 bumper winner has picked up in top-level races, as when third in last season's Irish Arkle, will be of benefit to him now reverting to handicaps off 151.

Blackbow: kept good company over fences last seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's been keeping good company all last season, gaining some valuable experience following the likes of Energumene and Chantry House around," said the champion jockey.

"Dropping back into handicap company, that experience will really stand him in good stead."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend added: "We just hope that Blackbow can deliver on the promise he showed as a bumper horse."

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Hardine and Eclair De Beaufeu
Hardline has plenty of weight but, if you draw a line through his last start, a decent run wouldn't be a surprise. He's a classy horse on his day. Eclair De Beaufeu ended up fairly high over fences after his novice season and then went back hurdling, but he had some very good form in those two-mile handicap chases the season before last. He seems in good shape and his old form would look to give him a solid each-way chance.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Castlegrace Paddy and Dunvegan
We treated Castlegrace Paddy [after he burst a blood vessel] last time and he seems to be in great form at home. What happened wouldn't have been characteristic of him at all. We'll see how he gets on here. Dunvegan was very good last time at the track and I don't think he'll mind the slower ground over this trip.

Take All: carries just 10st 5lb in Fairyhouse's Sunday featureCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Charles Byrnes, trainer of Poseidon
We were disappointed last time. If he came back to the form of his Cork win before that he'd have a chance.

John Ryan, trainer of Grange Walk
He's a really smart horse and I think he should be able to go on the ground, having shown up well on heavy over hurdles before. He's improved since his win at Leopardstown. I'd be disappointed if he doesn't run a big race.

Seamus Fahey, trainer of Take All
He ran well at Leopardstown last time and I think he should improve for that. It doesn't seem as though he's ground dependent, although he wouldn't be looking for extremes. It's competitive, but we hope he'll run well.

Ted Walsh, trainer of Batcio
If he's on a going day he's in with a chance, but he can be a little bit in and out. I wouldn't be worried about coming back to two miles with him.

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