Fairyhouse preview: Ballydoyle’s Heffernan one to follow

Adeste Fideles in particular can secure valuable success with step up in trip

Seamus Heffernan aboard Imagine. The Ballydoyle number two can exploit the stable’s advantage at Fairyhouse in Joseph O’Brien’s absence. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times
Seamus Heffernan aboard Imagine. The Ballydoyle number two can exploit the stable’s advantage at Fairyhouse in Joseph O’Brien’s absence. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times

Seamus Heffernan can take advantage of Joseph O'Brien's suspension to score a Ballydoyle double at Fairyhouse today where Adeste Fideles can secure a valuable winning bracket.

As a daughter of the 2001 Oaks heroine Imagine, the step up to a mile-and-a-half for this afternoon's finale could see a step-up by Adeste Fideles whose 82 rating for several efforts at shorter trips looks good enough for a contest of this standard.

General Marshall has a mark of 92 after four placed efforts and the drop back to six furlongs for the opening juvenile maiden shouldn't be any bother to this colt.

Heffernan will also fancy his chances in the €20,000 mile-and-a-half handicap where he rides Coolfighter.

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Diminutive grey Whitey O'Gwaun looks to have plenty weight to carry and it could be worth taking another chance with Primogeniture.

He won over the course and distance in July and finishing four lengths off Kalann over two miles last time is form that looks a lot better since the latter's Doncaster Cup run.Zanka is taken to finish ahead of Crecora while Donnacha O'Brien can take advantage of Aru Cha Cha's low draw in the apprentice handicap.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column