Chacun v Fakir: a Sunday sizzler between two of Ireland's top chasers

Sunday: 1.40 Thurles
Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 6yo+ | RTV

What better consolation for a bleak Saturday than a stonking Sunday showdown between two of Ireland's highest rated chasers who have won ten Grade 1s between them.

Chacun Pour Soi is responsible for six of those top-level victories, but they have all been over 2m or 2m1f and he has never gone beyond that trip in his whole time with Willie Mullins. Until now.

Fakir D'Oudairies is a two-mile-four specialist. He is a back-to-back winner of the Marsh Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting and has been runner-up in both the Arkle and the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival. The most surprising thing of all about him is that he is still only eight. He seems to have been around forever.

Chacun Pour Soi is now an 11-year-old and even Mullins admitted he won't be getting any better, but it is less than a year since he posted an Racing Post Rating of 174 when winning the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown, while he chased home Energumene at Punchestown in April as well. Age may be catching up with him, but the ratings still say he is 4lb superior to Fakir D'Oudairies.

You certainly couldn't say he would have beaten Blue Lord in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas had he not made a critical error at the second-last, but he would surely have finished a good second. He may not be regressing as quickly as some people think.

The big question is whether he will stay this longer trip? He is relaxing a lot more in his races now and his jumping is not as exuberant as it once was, so he will give himself every chance of getting home. If Townend is positive, he could take a few of these out of their comfort zone on the final circuit.

Fakir D'Oudairies was second to Allaho in this race last year before going on to to win Grade 1s at Ascot and Aintree and he should strip fitter for his comeback in the John Durkan Chase, when he was no match for Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs.

Fakir D'Oudairies: the big threat to Chacun Pour SoiCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Everything seems to be in his favour here, but there is a chance Chacun Pour Soi could really excel over this longer trip. If he does he is going to be very hard to beat.

It might look a match on paper and, it might well develop that way in the race, but French Dynamite was second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and shaped nicely for a long way when upped to 3m for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Royal Rendezvous is a former Galway Plate winner, Lifetime Ambition was runner-up in the Troytown at Navan earlier in the season and Haut En Couleurs went off as short as 6-1 when sixth in last year's Arkle.

This is a cracking running of this Grade 2 and the winner will almost certainly be cut for the Ryanair.

Paul Townend: 'I love Chacun Pour Soi and I can't wait to ride him again'

Paul Townend thought Chacun Pour Soi was in the process of producing a big performance when a shuddering error two out cost him valuable momentum in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He trailed in 14 lengths behind stablemate Blue Lord there, but that doesn't tell the whole story and the step up in trip could be a positive according to the rider, who has won five Grade 1s on him.

Townend said: "He was running a real big race until he made a bad mistake two out in the Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas. The step up in trip is going to be interesting for him. Maybe at this stage of his life it will help."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, he added: "Fakir D'Oudairies will have his optimum trip and conditions so he will make us work for everything we do.

"I love my horse, as I always say, and I can't wait to ride him. I don't think the trip will be an issue and I'm looking forward to getting going with him after that bad mistake."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Chacun Pour Soi, Royal Rendezvous and Haut En Couleurs
The conditions of the race suit Chacun Pour Soi and I think he'll handle the track and ground as well. There's a lot to like about him. He's 11 now and unlikely to be improving, but his rating gives him every chance. His jumping just hasn't been quite as good as it used to be when he was a younger horse, hence we're going out in trip and giving him more time to jump going maybe a mile an hour slower will help. Haut En Couleurs is a little hard to place at the moment and hopefully we'll learn a fair bit about him here. Royal Rendezvous is by King's Theatre and I think this track and going right-handed will suit him. The fact it's not heavy winter ground is another plus and he could go well at a nice price.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Fakir D'Oudairies
It's a very hot race but we think he's come on nicely for his run in the John Durkan and we're hoping for a good run from him. He ran well in the race last year so hopefully he can go well again. He's in good form.

Mouse Morris, trainer of French Dynamite
He seems in good form, but it's a hot race and we'll have to step up to the mark in this sort of company. We'll know where we stand after it anyway.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Lifetime Ambition
He's been running consistently well this season and hopefully he can give another good account of himself in what looks to be a very good race.

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