Take Zaarito for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse

Lets hope the Irish grand national meeting goes ahead this weekend as it is always a hugely competitive and enjoyable meeting. The opener (1.55pm) is a real puzzle but the top weight Colbert Station should go close. He looks to have been laid out for this challenge and will relish the likely soft ground. Admitedly he would prefer further than this trip but with the ground likely to be heavy he should still go close. The 2.25pm  race is another trappy affair but perhaps Blackstairmountain will succeed for Ruby Walsh. Willie Mullins's inmate was a shade disappointing at Cheltenham but I believe he is better than the form he showed there.  That was a messy race at Prestbury Park when the ground was fairly quick on the opening day (Dunguib did not show his true form that day either). Loosen my load rates the danger on Sunday. The valuable mares race (the 2.55pm event) is a cracking good affair with Morning Supreme and For Bill renewing rivalry. Morning Supreme is taken to follow up her Limerick win although a slight negative would be the trip on heavy ground. Ruby will need to get the fractions right on this likely front runner. The feature race of the day, the Powers Gold Cup, is a really top class affair. I like the chances of Zaarito. This fellow has fallen a few times but is actually a pretty good jumper on the whole,like his high class stablemate Big Zeb. His trainer Colm Murphy is sure to have him primed for this having skipped Cheltenham. He had a nice confidence boosting win at Naas recently and should be tough to beat here. Jagoes Mills rates the danger. It is interesting to see that JP Mcmanus has bought Kempes. This classy sort has an outside chance but I suspect that the heavy ground will put a huge emphasis on stamina and I therefore believe that he is unlikely to get home. The 4.05pm event is another  minefield but perhaps Some Target (ew) will pay dividends. This fellow is a tad slow but stays very well which he will need to do on Sunday. In the concluding bumper (the 5.05pm race) Our Girl Salley should send us all home happy. She is a very likeable mare who relishes soft ground and was impressive recently at Limerick.

I like Full of Hope in the 5.40pm race at Dundalk on Saturday. The negative is her wide draw but this is a moderate enough maiden and she is taken to finally get the Ballydoyle bandwagon rolling for the season.

P.s As for the snooker in China, home favourite Ding Junhui (pictured below) is a confident selection to see off Mark Allen in the semi finals. 4-6 with Paddy Powers looks tasty.