Explosive encounter on the cards as Laurina and Fakir D'Oudairies face off

Racing Post Novice Chase | Grade 1 | 2m1f | 4yo+ | RTV/RTE2

Fakir D'Oudairies put in a dominant display in the Drinmore Novice Chase, but it was a race that divided opinion.

For all those who are convinced he would have beaten Samcro had Gordon Elliott's charge not taken a tumble at the second-last, there appears to be as many who are staunch in their belief that the four-year-old was simply a sitting duck.

Opinions are also divided heading into this prestigious Grade 1, with Laurina usurping Fakir D'Oudairies as favourite. Both have taken to jumping fences exceptionally well and are receiving a healthy weight allowance – Fakir D'Oudairies for age and Laurina because she is a mare.

Fakir D'Oudairies did not achieve as much as Laurina over hurdles, with the latter landing the 2018 Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as well as a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse later that spring.

However, Joseph O'Brien's youngster, fourth in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and rated 10lb inferior to Laurina in that sphere, appears in love with jumping fences.

He was a joy to watch on his chasing debut when he slammed dual Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon at Navan before sauntering to Drinmore success after Samcro's exit.

Fakir D'Oudairies leads Samcro during the Drinmore Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

There was also a wow factor about Laurina's chasing debut at Gowran Park, where she was far too speedy over 2m4f for last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle winner Minella Indo.

This promises to be a helterskelter affair with Mark Walsh expected to keep things simple and use Fakir D'Oudairies's jumping to put his rivals under pressure from the start. However, the likelihood of him getting an easy lead are slim with Djingle and Royal Rendezvous likely to be on the speed.

The prospect of rain would help Laurina's cause and, if she can get into a nice rhythm under Paul Townend and within a few lengths of Fakir D'Oudairies turning in, she could snare him on the deceivingly testing Leopardstown run-in.

For fear of billing this as a two-horse race, Henry de Bromhead's Notebook should not be underestimated. A brilliant winner of the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase, in which he had his 151-rated stablemate Moon Over Germany confined to the rear view mirror, Notebook is yet another example of a De Bromhead-trained horse improving hugely for being sent chasing.

If there are any chinks in the armour of the top two, he could be the one to exploit them.

Punting pointers

Willie Mullins is the master when it comes to the Racing Post Novice Chase. Since getting on the scoresheet with Missed That in 2005, Ireland's champion trainer has followed up with Blackstairmountain [2011], Arvika Ligeonniere [2012], Douvan [2015], Min [2016] and Footpad [2017].

Mullins has outstanding claims of recording an unprecedented seventh win in the race, with Laurina flying the flag for the master of Closutton. However, it's worth noting she was beaten when she last raced against geldings, albeit in a red-hot Champion Hurdle won in record-breaking style by Espoir D’Allen.

Winners of this race usually go on to good things and Klairon Davis, Moscow Flyer, Sizing Europe, Douvan and Footpad all followed up in the Racing Post Arkle at Cheltenham.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Laurina and Royal Rendezvous
Laurina was very good at Gowran Park. She's dropping in trip but she showed good form over hurdles at the distance. She's very well and we're going to learn a lot more about her. Royal Rendezvous jumped well when winning at Thurles and, while this will be a much tougher assignment, he deserves to take his chance.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Fakir D'Oudairies
We're looking forward to the race. I'll be leaving the tactics up to Mark [Walsh] but I'd imagine he'll keep things very simple. It's impossible to compare him and Le Richebourg [last year's winner] but this fella has taken to chasing very well.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Notebook
He did it well in the Craddockstown and hopefully that form will entitle him to run well here. His jumping has been good and I've been really happy by how he's progressed over fences. Hopefully he'll keep doing so.

John Queally, trainer of Djingle
It looks as though it’s going to be run at a furious gallop and I suppose we have to be realistic taking on horses like Fakir D'Oudairies and Laurina. We would be very happy to come home with some place prize-money and it would be a bonus if we were to win. He's very well and I think he's come on a lot since Carlisle. We're quietly optimistic.

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