SESENTA CAN prove the “small is beautiful” theory correct at Fairyhouse today where champion trainer Willie Mullins looks to have covered all bases in preparing for the €90,000 feature.
Ruby Walsh faces a hungry morning as he attempts to do 10st for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle but that weight is ideal for Sesenta who Mullins has described as the smallest horse in his yard.
Despite her diminutive stature she is clearly talented but Mullins is always loathe to run her with 11st plus on her back because of the difficulty she has coping with big weights.
However, the presence of the Mullins-trained topweight Ebaziyan puts five of the 16 declared runners out of the handicap proper and it looks to have worked out perfectly for Sesenta who lurks towards the bottom of the weights.
Carrying 11st 2lb into eighth place behind American Trilogy in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month was a fine effort even though Jonjo O’Neill’s 66 to 1 shot Stradbrook was ahead of her in second.
The 2007 winner Emmpat figures again even though he is 12lb higher in the ratings this time and won’t have the very fast ground conditions he favours. However, the shape of the race looks to put things in Sesenta’s favour.
It could turn into yet another vintage day in an already vintage season for the Mullins team who are represented by Quiscover Fontaine in the Grade Two Brady Car Sales Novice Hurdle.
Last year’s Land Rover Bumper winner landed a three-in-a-row over flights before running inexplicably badly in a Grade Two at Thurles in late February when he struggled home 45 lengths behind Clan Tara who tops the weights today along with Roberto Goldback.
The latter’s form reads impressively since it ties in with the likes of the Cheltenham heroes Weapon’s Amnesty and Go Native but on better ground Quiscover Fontaine may be worth another chance.
The day’s other big-money event is the Tattersalls Dan Moore Memorial Chase which can provide Perce Rock with compensation for an unlucky Cheltenham experience.
Tommy Stack’s runner was making ground when badly hampered at the fourth last in the Freddie Williams Plate at the festival and should not have a problem with the drop back in trip today.
Ebadiyan will be a popular choice for the opening Grade Three Weatherbys Hurdle.
