The jumps racing season in now in full-swing, and as expected, fans have already been treated to sublime performances, incredible upsets and everything in between. None more so than at the Fairyhouse meeting which took place over the first weekend of December, with a number of big names lining up in Ireland as their trainers look for them to find form before the sport’s preeminent fixtures in March and April of next year.
The meet delivered in spades, with the various results already proving crucial in the context of the season. Therefore, let’s take a look at three horses whose performances either impressed or disappointed at Fairyhouse.
Facile Vega
Given this five-year-old’s exceptional start to his National Hunt flat-racing career, in which he won his first four fixtures by a combined margin of more than 24 months – there were fans and pundits alike who watched on with great interest as Facile Vega lined up for his jumps racing debut at Fairyhouse. The son of Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega – the Willie Mullins-trained horse showed all of his class as he dominated the 16-strong field to win by a comfortable 14 lengths.
He didn’t even look like being challenged, as jockey Paul Townend kicked into gear with three hurdles remaining to leave the trailing pack in his wake.
For those who bet on horses, as a result of his performance in Ireland, Facile Vega is tipped to race in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – and he has opened as the favourite at odds of 5/4.
Honeysuckle
This all-time great mare needs no introduction. The two-time Champion Hurdle winner and then unbeaten eight-year-old entered her race at Fairyhouse an overwhelming favourite to make it 17 from 17. It wasn’t her day however, as she couldn’t hold on to her lead two hurdles out and finished third behind 20/1 shock winner Teahupoo and Klassical Dream.
Her loss has put somewhat of a dampener on her attempt at winning a third Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March – and given the performance Constitution Hill put forth in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle meet at Newcastle – the contest that was being billed as a clash of the titans may be no more.
Whether trainer Henry de Bromhead decides to enter Honeysuckle after her most recent run remains to be seen – but given the conditions in Ireland were less than ideal for his great mare, he may just give her another shot at making it a third consecutive Champion Hurdle triumph. And if he does, writing her off due to one performance would be harsh.
Marine Nationale
After three solid wins at Punchestown and Killarney heading into his Fairyhouse fixture, the unbeaten Marine Nationale saddled up for his maiden Grade 1 outing in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
The step up in competition didn’t faze him in the slightest, with the five-year-old defeating Irish Point by a head to claim his fourth consecutive triumph. After sitting middle of the pack for a large chunk of the race, Marine Nationale and his jockey Michael O’Sullivan made their push over the final hurdle and came home incredibly strong to narrowly finish first past the post.
If Marine Nationale can tidy up his jumping, he has a very bright future ahead of him in the sport.
