Barry Geraghty: Inexperience no concern for Panda Boy in Irish National

Fairyhouse’s three-day Easter Festival begins on Saturday and culminates in the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday, which is always a great spectacle and a race I was lucky enough to win on Shutthefrontdoor in 2014.

There’s also a competitive card from Haydock on Saturday, which includes several valuable Series Finals.

Haydock, Saturday

Haydock’s card on Saturday kicks-off with the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final (1:30). TOO FRIENDLY was probably a little bit disappointing when he was sent up in trip on soft ground in Kempton last time. He has some good form prior to that though, including on better ground. I think the combination of a return to a sounder surface, drop back in trip and first-time blinkers make him of interest.

I thought Big Boy Bobby, if you were to forgive his last run, he had some good form from earlier in the winter, including when finishing only a head behind No Ordinary Joe, who was placed in Cheltenham. A return to that form would give him a big shout.

In the Challenger Staying Chase Series Final (2:40) the one I like is FEIVEL. He unseated last time out, but before that he was second to Mucho Mas, who carries top-weight here, on soft ground at Sandown. He has better form on a sounder surface and was a good winner in Wetherby in February on good ground. That was his first run for Dr Richard Newland, who has a habit of improving these sorts of horses. Cheekpieces are given a go today and I thought he was of interest.

DOCPICKEDME could be the one in the Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final (3:15). He was a good winner on a sound surface at Doncaster and Southwell on his last two runs. He runs for Harry Whittington, who is soon to be giving up his training licence, so it would be nice to see him have some success.

It’s a competitive race, but I thought it lacked a little in quality. The other I thought could run well is My Bobby Dazzler, who was second to Thanksforthehelp in Chepstow last time. He’s had a wind-op since then and that might just bring out a bit of improvement.

Fairyhouse, Sunday

The ground is going to be soft at Fairyhouse, so stamina may come to the fore.

Ashroe Diamond is the favourite for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle (2:35), but she’s stepping up in trip. She had Halka Du Tabert and Jetara a few lengths behind in Fairyhouse in January. Halka Du Tabert was only beaten a couple of lengths in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle in Cheltenham, so the form ties in very well. I would be against Ashroe Diamond stepping up in trip though, as she has a lot of pace and travels very strongly.

Magical Zoe was the obvious one from the Mares’ Novice at the Festival, as she came from off the pace and looked to enjoy the step up in trip.

But the other one, at a juicer price, I thought was interesting was PRINCESS ZOE, who wasn’t beaten far in the mares’ race. She finished only four lengths behind the winner, so she was only a length or so behind the main players here. Her jumping was only adequate in Cheltenham, but I think the step up in trip and the softer ground here is just going to slow the pace of the race and give her time to organise herself over her hurdles. She’s won the Group 1 Prix Du Cadran over two-and-a-half miles on heavy ground two years ago, so she is a high-class mare. I think she’ll be better for her experience at Cheltenham, and I think she could be value in a competitive race.

APPRECIATE IT and Mighty Potter square up again in the Gold Cup (4:55). For me, Mighty Potter put in a lacklustre performance in Cheltenham. He just never travelled with the purpose he would normally and didn’t jump with the same exuberance. I thought if you stopped the race turning in, there was no reason why he shouldn’t win; he was close enough, if he was good enough. I don’t think we saw him anywhere near his best there, but this is only 24 days later, and I think it would be a brilliant training performance if Gordon [Elliott] could rekindle him in that short space of time.

Appreciate It was a little was a little bit disappointing at the Festival also, but, for me, he was probably ridden with a bit too much patience. I think they didn’t give the winner, Stage Star, enough credit and he probably got the run of the race. In my eyes, he was the one to take out of the race, and he’s the one to be on.

I’d be against Sir Gerhard, as he turned in a really lacklustre performance in the Brown Advisory and I don’t see any reason why he should turn that around.

Fairyhouse, Monday

The one I would fancy in the Irish Grand National (5:00) is PANDA BOY. He fell last time, but we can forgive him that. Before that, he travelled and jumped really well in the Paddy Power in Leopardstown at Christmas, where he looked to get a little outpaced, before staying on strongly to the line. He has limited experience over fences, but this is a race that is known for being a good race for novices.

Thedevilscoachman has the ideal profile for the race. He’s been well campaigned with this race in mind, but the one question for me would be his jumping. Will it be quick enough and slick enough in such a competitive field? When winning last time out in Limerick, he was a little bit slow at the second last and then gave the last fence a lot of air, so I’m not fully convinced his jumping will be sharp enough.

Royale Pagaille will love conditions, but he was beaten a long way in the Gold Cup last time. The one who could have an each-way squeak is The Goffer, who was a good winner in Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival and backed that up with a good fourth in the Ultima at the Festival last time.