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Dicosimo aims to build on pleasing run
The Willie Mullins-trained Dicosimo
© Photo Healy Racing
Dicosimo appears to have been found a good opportunity to open his account over fences at Fairyhouse.
The French import looked a really smart recruit for Willie Mullins when winning on his Irish debut at Gowran Park a couple of years ago, but his career has been blighted by a series of false dawns since.
The 2015 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham proved a step too far and while he looked to have turned a corner when bolting up on his first start of last season at Limerick, he fell in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and not much has gone his way since.
The six-year-old was bitterly disappointing on his chasing debut at Limerick over the festive period and his next effort at Gowran last month was just as bad.
However, his latest performance when chasing home red-hot favourite Don't Touch It at Thurles was a big step in the right direction and a reproduction of that could be enough to see him get off the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase. The Green Lady bids for her second victory in the space of four days in the Book For The Easter Festival Mares Handicap Hurdle.
The daughter of Westerner bolted up at Punchestown on Wednesday and she must have every chance of following up under a penalty provided that effort has not left its mark.
The Mullins-trained Sure Reef is the most interesting runner in the At The Races Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old was sidelined for the best part of three years after winning a Grade Two at Leopardstown in January 2014, so it is no surprise he has struggled on his first two runs back.
He was third on his return at Punchestown on New Year's Eve before finishing down the field behind Jezki last month.
Sure Reef switches to handicap company on a mark of 133 and it would be no surprise to see him run well before heading to Cheltenham in less than three weeks' time.
Jim Dreaper 's pair of Aupcharlie and Sizing Solution are perhaps the two to focus on in the Easter Festival 16th - 18th April Hunters Chase, while Fulham Road finally makes his debut in the Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
There have been positive noises coming out of Closutton about this seven-year-old for a while, but his debut has been delayed by a series of setbacks.
His ability is likely to be tested, with Gordon Elliott's winning point-to-pointer Empire Burleque a formidable rival.