Fairyhouse and Naas final Festival indicators

Niall Cronin

Willie MULLINS opted against giving Triumph Hurdle-bound Dicosimo a final prep run at Fairyhouse tomorrow afternoon in the Grade Two Bambury Bookmakers Juvenile Hurdle but Gordon Elliott has included the well regarded Vercingetorix in the race which was won by the talented Abbyssial 12-months ago.

Tomorrow's opening race is one of two Grade Twos on the card with the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase the feature in which Aintree Grand National entries Roi Du Mee and Spring Heeled are set to clash.

There are also a couple of Grade Two races down for decision at Naas on Sunday where it is Cheltenham Trial Day and the concluding bumper looks likely to throw up a potential Champion Bumper type, despite the fact that it is only a three-runner field.

Trainer Gordon Elliott gave Arkle contender Clarcam a surprise entry in the Grade Two Paddy Power Your Local Betting Shop Chase but opted against running the five-year-old novice against the more expereinced campaigners such as Twinlight and Mallowney who were both declared this morning along with Moscow Mannon, Rathlin and recent Down Royal winner Rocky Wednesday.

meeting

Naas will yet again be hosting a Cheltenham preview in between races on Sunday and racecourse manager Tom Ryan is looking forward to welcoming some more stars to the meeting.

Ryan said: "Our racing venue is one of the best indicators of form in the country for all the big racing festivals so if you win here you'd want to be wrapping your horse up in cotton wool as you know then you have a special steed!"

Paddy Power added: "The Cheltenham Trial Day at Naas is one of the last chances to see the Irish contenders do battle.

"This day has produced some notable stars in the past such as Annie Power, Go Native, Rite of Passage and Outlander.

"And we look forward to seeing which of Sunday's winners will be racing up the Cheltenham hill in a couple of weeks."