Ante-post / Timeform / 22 February 2012 /

There's Grade 2 action aplenty in Ireland this weekend, with the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle kicking off proceedings at Fairyhouse on Saturday.......

The race is expected to feature the long-awaited jumping debut of Triumph Hurdle favourite Minsk, a smart Flat performer for John Oxx, last seen in action when an easy winner of the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh in October. It's remarkable to see the Triumph market headed by one unraced over timber with only four weeks until the Cheltenham Festival - testament to the impression Minsk created on the level - and he'll have to win comfortably to justify his status. Most of the potential opposition looks beatable, but Darroun is one that is unlikely to be easy to put away, and he's already had his Triumph Hurdle claims well advertised, having beaten recent Grade 1 winner Hisaabaat in a maiden at Leopardstown last time.

The Bobbyjo Chase later on the card is essentially a Grand National trial nowadays and it's no surprise to see that nine of the thirteen engaged at the five-day stage hold entries in the Aintree marathon. Last year's Bobbyjo winner The Midnight Club has yet to find his form this term, turned over when odds on at Clonmel last time, but the return to a longer trip will be in his favour. His trainer Willie Mullins has three other entries, including former Howard Johnson inmates Prince de Beauchene and impressive Thyestes Chase winner On His Own, both shorter than The Midnight Club in the ante-post market for the Grand National. Prince de Beauchene could well be the one to beat - he shaped as if as good as ever when fifth in the Troytown at Navan on his first start for Mullins, despite being left further back than ideal, and has been kept fresh since. Dual Kerry National winner Alfa Beat is another entitled to go well at the weights, but his current well-being is difficult to gauge as he lost his rider early in a handicap hurdle on his return from a break.

Mullins has a trio of last-time-out maiden winners engaged in the paddypower.com Novice Hurdle at Naas the following day, the pick of which could be Felix Yonger, another ex-Howard Johnson horse. This son of Oscar bombed out completely in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last spring but has created a good impression in two starts over hurdles for his current yard, the form of his easy nine-length defeat of Beef To The Heels at Downpatrick upheld by that rival since. Texas Jack is arguably the pick on form, having won his first three starts, but he's got a bit to prove now after underperforming at a similar level on his last two outings and the drop to a bare two miles may not be in his favour.

Rathlin will be bidding to complete a hat-trick if he takes in the Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase over two and a half miles thirty minutes earlier. A breathing operation and the fitting of a tongue tie seem to have done wonders for last year's Supreme Novice sixth - he has impressed with his jumping in winning a maiden and novice on heavy ground at Fairyhouse and drying conditions won't do any harm to his chance. Shot From The Hip would be the pick on hurdles form but his last of four behind Last Instalment in a steadily-run Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time is hardly the most persuasive piece of form and a question mark remains over his ability to truly stay the trip. A bigger danger could prove to be Shop Dj, a Grade 3 winner over hurdles who is set to run in her first chase outside mares only company. She chased home the promising Knockfierna at Cork last time and might have beaten Blazing Tempo at Clonmel in November but for coming a cropper at the last.

Blazing Tempo herself looks to have a good opportunity to gain her fifth win of what has already been a productive campaign in the paddypower.com Chase, potentially the weakest of the graded races on the Naas card. A Ryanair entry, she defeated one of the favourites for that race, Noble Prince, in the Normans Grove at Fairyhouse last time, and should confirm form with third-placed Tranquil Sea should Edward O'Grady's 10-y-o take his chance. There looks to be little else among the entries to trouble Blazing Tempo, though Zaarito would have a squeak on his best chasing form if he could put a poor effort over hurdles at Leopardstown behind.

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