John Ryan seeking quick compensation with talented mares in Munster National

Sunday: 3.55 Limerick
JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase | 3m | 4yo+ | RTV

John Ryan made no secret of his frustration at failing to get a run in the Kerry National with his talented flagbearers Fairyhill Run and Waitnsee, who were left out of the race as first and third reserves.

Both now have the chance to show their worth in this tricky-to-solve €80,000 contest and the Tipperary trainer retains huge faith in his representatives.

Fairyhill Run has been in the form of her life this summer, going up 28lb from when she won her first handicap chase at this track in July, and it will be fascinating to see how she fares off her new mark, which is a stone higher than when coasting home on her latest outing at Kilbeggan in August.

Fairyhill Run: big player in Sunday's feature at LimerickCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A return to fences will need to bring out the best in stablemate Waitnsee, while Ryan's other representative Dromore Lad isn't guaranteed a run this time as first reserve.

Topweight Chatham Street Lad, who memorably bolted up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last December for Mick Winters and Darragh O'Keeffe, is 9lb clear of his nearest rivals on an official mark of 151.

Considering how effective he is on testing ground, a dry forecast leading up to the race may not be ideal for him.

Chatham Street Lad: effective on testing ground and has solid course form

Willie Mullins runs Ontheropes and Sapphire Lady as he seeks his third win in the race in five years, having scored with Total Recall (2017) and Cabaret Queen (2019).

Ontheropes, who hasn't been seen since finishing second to Monkfish in a Fairyhouse beginners' chase last November, is interesting off a mark of 141.

What they say

Mick Winters, trainer of Chatham Street Lad
Fairyhill Run is the one to beat and, if I was kicking in winners like John Ryan is, I’d be going to Limerick awful cocky in myself. Having said that, our lad is very well and his coat looks great. We can’t crab his preparation and he has been in long enough. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if he got beaten but we’re expecting a big run. The heavier the ground the better.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Top Moon, Aramax, The Big Lense and A Wave Of The Sea
Top Moon's jumping can leave a bit to be desired at times but he was running a big race when coming down in the Kerry National. The same race was a bit of a non-event for Aramax and The Big Lense and hopefully we'll have a bit more luck this time. A Wave Of The Sea ran a cracker there and has been very consistent. Hopefully he can get into the money if he's in the same sort of form.

Ontheropes: ran to a RPR of 154 when second to Monkfish on his latest appearance in November last yearCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

John Ryan, trainer of Fairyhill Run, Waitnsee and Dromore Lad
We worked Fairyhill Run and Waitnsee the other day and there wasn’t a head between them. We've always thought a lot of Fairyhill Run but Waitnsee is a classy mare as well. We’ve entered Fairyhill Run in the Grade 1 at Down Royal, which tells you all you need to know about what we think of her. It takes some doing getting a mare up for a race [the Kerry National] and then having to let her down to bring her back again, but we think we have her pretty right. [Bryan] Cooper is convinced she’s a Graded mare. If she is, she’d go close in this. Dromore Lad will head for the Cork National if he doesn’t get in.

James Motherway, trainer of Dinny Lacey
He's got a nice weight and I don't think the ground will be a problem for him. Listowel probably didn't play to his strengths last time but he's won at Limerick before. He's a second-season chaser, which seems to be the right sort of profile for the race, and has plenty of experience. I wouldn't swap him.

Oliver McKiernan, trainer of Best Behavior
The race might be a bit of a lottery but he's at the right end of the weights and could run well if he gets into a rhythm with his jumping.

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