Caroline’s & Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 5th April 2026

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Fairyhouse & Cork and Marie-Francoise’s ParisLongchamp Picks

Fairyhouse

Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.40
Too Bossy For Us
Well, I’ve got to tell you that while all the money is on Leader D’allier, I’m going to buck that trend and go for Too Bossy For Us. This is my thinking – that Leader D’allier for me hasn’t beaten much, even if he did do it in fine fashion the last day at Punchestown. I’d be of the opinion that Too Bossy For Us with his sixth in the Supreme Novices’ at the Cheltenham Festival is in really good form, and has plenty of stamina in the breeding being a Golden Horn should there be plenty of pace on. That’s my call, with Noel Meade’s Blake and Joseph O’Brien’s Le Labo sure to make this a proper race, but maybe Too Bossy For Us is worth a chance.

Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 3.15
He’s On Fire (nap)
Now then, maybe it could be the case that He’s On Fire didn’t beat all that much at Carlisle the last day, but he did it in such consuming fashion I’ll back him to take this Grade 2. It’s the Willie Mullins show here, he’s got six of the twelve as he really turns the screws on Gordon Elliott for the Trainers Championship, and if He’s On Fire doesn’t set the race alight, then Saint Baco, Love Me Tender and Kiely’s Place are all in with a good chance. Charles Byrne’s I Started A Joke is a worthy rival, second to Bowensonfire in a valuable Handicap at Leopardstown the last day. I’ll let you know that I’ve been tempted into a little each way gamble on Gordon Elliott’s Lazare De Star as he does look mispriced to me at around 16/1 this week, but I can’t wait to be seeing He’s On Fire win this.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.50
Oldschool Outlaw (nb)
I thought Oldschool Outlaw ran really well in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, chasing home White Noise right through the line. So, given that she’s now stepped up to 2 mile 4, I’m telling yuzz that she’s the one to beat, and with form over the Willie Mullins pair of Charme De Faust and Place De La Nation, Gordon Elliott must be banking on Oldschool Outlaw as his banker in the Graded races here at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Colm Murphy’s Zanoosh keeps winning, so has to be worth a try in this grade, but I can’t get away from Oldschool Outlaw with this trip and conditions just right.

BOYLE Sports Novice Handicap Chase (Listed) 4.25
Break My Soul
Well, I did think that Ian Patrick Donoghue’s Break My Soul ran a blinder in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, so I’ll take the chance that she can do that again. I suppose coming from the top of the weights does put her there to be taken on, but the conditions are fine and she’s still unexposed over fences. Ted Walsh’s Shuffle The Deck has been running over further, so could find this trip a bit on the sharp side, so Ed Crawley’s Come Walk With Me might be the danger, after a good second in a Beginners Chase the last day at Leopardstown. Henry de Bromhead’s chasers are ignored at your peril, so Birdie Or Bust looks the each way angle, but Break My Soul I think will win.

Cork

BAR 1 Betting Chase (Grade 3) 4.10
Nowwhatdoyouthink
Of course, all the money has been going down on Willie Mullins Classic Getaway this week, but I’ve got to tell you, Nowwhatdoyouthink could upset the favourite. It’s Classic Getaway that for me has plenty to prove, after trailing behind in third to Impaire Et Passe the last day at Gowran Park, though that trip might have been a bit sharp. I’m sure that Willie Mullins has Classic Getaway on song for this Grade 3, but he’s got to give almost a stone to Nowwhatdoyouthink and dare I say, doesn’t have the best strike rate over fences. There we are, I’ve put myself up there to be shot down! but I’ve just got a feeling Classic Getaway has been given too much respect here.

ParisLongchamp

Prix la Force (Group 3) (Colts & Geldings) 2.50
Zambezi
I think that there could be much support for Zaraki for the Prix la Force, but I will be on Tim Donworth’s Zambezi. Oui, we have only seen the one run from Zaraki last year, and he was very, very good, but we do not know if he has trained on until this race, so I am happy to be on Zambezi who ran very well to chase Elastic at Saint-Cloud last time. This pair, they came away from the field at the 300 metre pole, and I like the race fitness that I know Zambezi has non? Francis-Henri Graffard’s Ebiyar also looked a nice one here last year, and has a Derby entry at Epsom, but Zambezi is the one for me.

Al Shira’aa Racing Prix Vanteaux (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.25
Vaticana
I will be on Vaticana for the Prix Vanteaux, even though I know that Andre Fabre’s Zlata was finishing very well to win the Prix de la Lorie at Chantilly last September. So I am very interested to see how Zlata now performs. Maybe she has trained on, and will be in some big races this summer, so she has a chance for this Group 3. D’accord, Henri-Francis Devin’s Maintain must be onto the list, as she won on this course and distance last year, with a very very fast finish in the last 300 metres, and with jockey Colin Keane over here, should be one to consider. But, Vaticana won the Prix la Carmago very well at Saint-Cloud just three weeks ago, and she can win this ahead of Zlata.

Prix d’Harcourt (Group 2) 4.00
Cualificar
Oolala, what a race this is to be the Prix d’Harcourt! It could be any one of four or five that can win this Group 2, with Andre Fabre’s Bright Picture so impressive in the Prix Exbury last time at Saint-Cloud, and the first and the second and the third from the Prix Dollar, First Look and Bay City Roller and Bright Picture all back to compete again. D’accord, but my heart says I must be on Cualificar. Oui, I was always following Andre Fabre’s Cualificar last year, and while the others ran in the Prix Dollar, he went into the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but I think that this 2,000 metre trip is ideal for him and that is why I will be with him again. Bay City Roller is a very very good colt, and has Oisin Murphy on the saddle, so must be the one with Bright Picture to make this the best race, but I will be on Cualificar.