Key questions and trainer quotes as Getabird bids to get back on track

2.45 Fairyhouse
Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTE2/ATR

KEY QUESTIONS

Is Getabird more effective on a right-handed track?

Four from four with a combined winning distance of almost 30 lengths going right-handed. Eleventh of 19 and beaten 43 lengths on his only start left-handed. It certainly seems that Getabird prefers turning right so it is lucky that the two spring festivals in Ireland are at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, both right-handed tracks.

The chances are that we did not see the real Getabird at Cheltenham as he failed to relax in the early part of the Supreme and was beaten before the home turn. Mengli Khan, the horse he beat by nine lengths in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, was 41 lengths ahead of him at Cheltenham. That surely tells you all you need to know.

Excuses won't wash with Getabird this time. He handles the ground, has won at the track and is going right-handed. All the ducks seem to be in a row for the son of Getaway.

Jockey Paul Townend said: "I have ridden Getabird only once and that was when he won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown in December. He felt really good that day and hopefully he can return to that sort of form here. Cheltenham obviously didn't go to plan but he has been in good form at home since and I am certainly looking forward to getting back on board."

Mullins, who has won the race four times in the last five years with Pique Sous (2013), Valseur Lido (2014), Sempre Medici (2015) and Bleu Berry (2017), is also represented by Sharjah, Sayar and Draconien.

Can Charm make the breakthrough at Graded level?

He shocked us at Cheltenham when winning the Fred Winter at 33-1 but the big question is whether Veneer Of Charm can perform another magic trick now that he steps up into Grade 2 company.

That surprise success in the juvenile handicap at the festival has seen his mark jump to 134 but he remains rated 18lb lower than Getabird so the figures suggest he has it all to do.

"Veneer Of Charm was a lovely surprise for us at Cheltenham and he is improving all the time. This is a big ask but he deserves his place in the line-up and hopefully he will give a good account of himself," said trainer Gordon Elliott.

Elliott, who won the race in 2016 with Sutton Place, also runs Hardline, who skipped Cheltenham after winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas in late February.

"Hardline has been a model of consistency all season and has never once let us down. He will run his race and seems in great form at home," Elliott said.

Jack Kennedy celebrates after winning the Fred Winter on Veneer Of CharmCredit: Patrick McCann

Will Damalisque deliver on his Irish debut?

Eddie Harty has decided to pitch French recruit Damalisque in at the deep end on his first start for the stable and the five-year-old, who won a Listed hurdle at Auteuil last September, will need to be a bit special to make a winning debut in Ireland.

"We haven't had him too long and starting points for him were few and far between. It was not that we wanted to start him off in a Graded race, it was that we had to as we had very few other options," Harty said.

Why is O'Brien risking Murphy's novice status?

It seems strange for a talented performer like The Gunner Murphy, who chased home Minella Encore in a Leopardstown bumper over Christmas, to be making his debut over hurdles in April. There is so little of the season left to exploit.

But trainer Joseph O'Brien, who sent out Uisce Beatha to win the opening maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday in impressive style, is hopeful of a decent showing.

O'Brien said: "The Gunner Murphy is a nice horse. We like him and he showed plenty in bumpers. We think he jumps well at home and, while it is a hot race, I would like to think that he can run well."

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