Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Play it Coolio with Firefox

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty casts his expert eye over the best of a brilliant card from Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Fairyhouse, Sunday

The Listed Porterstown Handicap Chase (1:05pm) looks mightily competitive. Gordon Elliott has a strong hand with his three runners, but the most progressive horse in the field could be KLARC KENT from the Willie Mullins yard. He is yet to get off the mark in six starts over fences but he has some good form to his name. He was third behind Monty’s Star and Three Card Brag on his debut over fences, which was a good effort, and he went on to finish fourth in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr last season. To be only beaten six lengths there was a nice performance and showed that he will have no issues with this trip. He looks a horse with potential and could be worth chancing here off what looks like a feasible mark.

ROMEO COOLIO is one of my horses to follow this season and he looks the one to beat in the Royal Bond (1:35pm). He ran a big race in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season, when just outstayed at the finish. He’s only had one run over hurdles, but his jumping was impeccable when winning at Down Royal. This ground and trip are ideal for him, and I think he should take a bit of beating. He’s a classy horse, and one I really like going forward.

FIREFOX put in one of the most impressive rounds of jumping that I’ve seen in a long time from a horse having his first run over fences when winning at Down Royal. He looks made for fences and is my selection in the Drinmore (2:05pm). Heart Wood appears to be his main danger, as a horse that is progressing well, but it sticks in my mind that he was beaten on his first few starts over fences. Firefox just screams potential over fences, and to me he is a Grade 1 contender.

The Hatton’s Grace (2:40pm) is a fascinating clash between Teahupoo and LOSSIEMOUTH. Teahupoo was a horse that I napped at the Cheltenham Festival, but that was in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He has won this race for that last two years, and is very good when fresh, but I wonder if he will have the speed to live with Lossiemouth over this trip. Lossiemouth is the current favourite for the Champion Hurdle, and she has the speed and ability to win this. She’s a really top-class mare and to me she represents more of a challenge than Teahupoo has faced in this race before.