Shark Hanlon's star Skyace starts road to Cheltenham at scene of Grade 1 triumph

Tuesday: 2.15 Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse.ie Hurdle | 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTV

Honeysuckle landed this conditions hurdle on her way to winning a first Hatton's Grace Hurdle, and Grade 1-winning mare Skyace could bid to do the same this time around.

Having been picked up for just £600 after hitting the frame in three bumpers for Willie Mullins, the six-year-old took connections on a rags-to-riches journey last season.

From causing 66-1 and 28-1 upsets in Grade 3 and Listed company, she finished an admirable fourth in the Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham before making a breakthrough at the highest level at Fairyhouse in April.

Skyace: bargain buy set for another big seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

She was an early faller at the Punchestown festival and was pulled up in the Galway Hurdle when possibly struggling for pace.

However, this looks a more suitable assignment for her return after a 96-day break, despite taking on some useful rivals away from mares-only company.

She meets the talented Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old Ciel De Neige, who shares the same mark of 140 with Skyace, and is pretty well treated at the weights with Gigginstown's Wide Receiver, one of the leading fancies for last season's Martin Pipe before being ruled out due to a setback.

Queens Brook, third to Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It in the 2020 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, needs to improve a fair deal from her recent return at Wexford when second to 119-rated Lunar Display but is entitled to sharpen up and has a fair deal of natural ability.

Ciel De Neige: in-form hurdler has always promised plenty

Ciel De Neige enjoyed a confidence-boosting success at Sligo 11 days ago and looks the biggest challenger to Skyace. He has often threatened to land a major handicap hurdle but could prove a very effective operator in smaller-field conditions events such as this.

What they say

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Ciel De Neige
It was nice to see him win at Sligo last time having been knocking on the door. It looks as though he'll have a good bit more on his plate this time but Willie says he's in good form and we're hoping for the best.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Wide Receiver and Queens Brook
Both seem to be in good form. It's Wide Receiver's first run of the season while Queens Brook was second at Wexford the other day. This looks a competitive race but I'm hoping they can both run well.

Shark Hanlon, trainer of Skyace
She's in good shape but it's her first start of the season and I'd be delighted if she could run a nice race to have something to build on for the coming months. There are only five runners but it's a tidy race, very competitive. She likes Fairyhouse, though, having won there in the spring. She could possibly come back for the Hatton's Grace or something along those lines, we'll see how things go. Ultimately, the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham will be her target. Two and a half miles around there should be fine for her. She's only six and can go chasing in time as well.

Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday.