It’s another international day as we have two in Cheltenham and five in Fairyhouse.

Our two runners in Cheltenham are MORTAL and DELTA WORK in the cross country race. It has been very difficult to get horses over for the cross country race as they have been cancelled a number of times due to frost so well done to Cheltenham for getting this show on the road. Delta Work is the defending champion of the cross country at the Festival and he goes to get an eye in for March and Rob James is booked to ride and gets to use is 7lbs claim in the race. Mortal hasn’t been seen on the track in about a year so it will be great to have him back as he has been well at home and Sam Ewing takes the ride.

Over in Fairyhouse our first runner is HALKA DU TABERT in the Grade 3 mares novice hurdle. This filly is aiming to go four from four as she has a growing reputation to guard for an owner who is getting used to owning good fillies. Its a hot contest but we have Davy Russell in the saddle.

For the maiden hurdle we have two nice runners in the shape of ARABIAN DIAMOND and FOUND A FIFTY. Found a fifty was unfortunately a non runner the other day to a family bereavement but gets the go ahead here. He looks a very smart horse with a bright future and will be ridden by Davy Russell. Arabian Diamond is a McManus homebred so it would be great to see a good run on his debut under Jordan Gainford.

Another pair face off in the maiden hurdle over 2m4f. MALTON GROOVE will have to put his last run behind him and we would be hopeful of him bouncing back to his previous form, Davy Russell has been booked to ride. COOL CROI is still available for lease and hated the ground the last day. Things have dried out a bit more here and we have Nathan Andrews in the saddle who claims 7lbs.

Rounding up the day we have RUN FOR PAT in the opportunity handicap hurdle. This should be a good opportunity for this horse as Corey McGivern can make use of his 4lb claim in this. Hopefully he can give us a good finish to the day.