Racing Cork preview and Fairyhouse report: The Curragh trainer Jim Gorman has an outstanding record in the opening sprint handicap at Cork today and he looks to have another big chance of winning it with Fair Replacement.
The six-year-old ran at Down Royal on Saturday when fourth to his stable mate Flamingo Bay. However, his apprentice rider was judged by the stewards to have made insufficient effort and was given a 10-day ban.
Gorman expressed his disappointment at the ride to the stewards and declared the horse should have finished second. The booking of Jamie Spencer for Fair Replacement today looks pretty appropriate and Gorman, who has won the race for the last two years, can continue his good start to the season.
The feature race is the Listed Cork Stakes where Tiger Royal heads the Irish defence against a strong cross-channel raid. The consistent mare Dragon Flyer could be the one to take prize.
The mile maiden usually throws up a good horse and this time round it looks like it could be Dermot Weld's Monaser. The Sadler's Wells colt is reportedly smart and working well.
Meanwhile, Sadlers Wings booked his ticket for the Punchestown Festival with an impressive victory at Fairyhouse yesterday. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding made amends for a below-par effort at Cheltenham by beating Point Barrow by three and a half lengths in the Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle.
The even-money favourite was always going well and David Casey produced him to lead approaching the last flight before he stretched readily clear.
Sadlers Wings had become stirred up down at the start at Cheltenham and Mullins said: "I was delighted with that. He was much calmer today and didn't get upset at the start. The tongue-tie may have been upsetting him, so we decided to leave it off today." Sadlers Wings could now head for the Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on April 30th.
Fadoudal Du Cochet ran on gamely to record an appropriate success in the €70,000 Power Home Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase. The winner is trained by Dan Moore's son, Arthur, and the 12 to 1 shot had to work hard for the victory.
Conor O'Dwyer sent Fadudal Du Cochet to the front five from home and he had to fight off several challengers before proving a length too good for Colca Canyon, the 3 to 1 favourite.
John Cullen was mounting a strong challenge on Say Again when the grey hit the final fence hard and they had to be content with minor honours.
Fadoudal Du Cochet came to grief after making an uncharacteristic blunder at Cheltenham last time and Moore said: "He was going well and looked like he would have been in the money when falling at Cheltenham. He's an 11-year-old now so it was lovely to see him win again, and that's the end of it for him now, but he'll be back again next season."
It was a great day for Moore who went on to complete a treble with Jaquouille (4 to 1) and Farinel (3 to 1).
