Fennos Storm head 15 possible runners for opening hunter chase

The first hunter chase of the new season has attracted a strong entry with 15 horses engaged at the initial entry stage for Sunday’s Buy Tickets Online and Save Hunter Chase at Cork Racecourse.

Declan Queally’s Fenno’s Storm, who had won successive editions of the Tetretema Hunter Chase at Gowran Park heads the 17, fresh from his winning return to action, when dead-heating with Troytown Chase contender Mala Beach at Moig South.

Mala Beach’s trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin is responsible for one of the other principal entries in Sidetracked. Chris Jones’ charge going from winning a maiden in November, to open success three months later, before ending the campaign by chasing home subsequent Aintree Foxhunters runner-up Burning Ambition at Down Royal.

Holycross Lito lowered the colours of the joint-champion pointer Longhouse Music when making her return between the flags at Loughanmore last month and could make the long journey from Sean McParlan’s Co. Down base for the contest, with Wrong Direction, another interesting contender.

His Conna-based trainer Seamus Spillane started the new season well on Sunday, when Goulane Jessie, his first runner of the campaign, got her head in front at Knockmullen House. The nine-year-old was very unlucky not to open his account in hunter chase company when falling at Limerick last Christmas, and he has since gone on to win the €5,000 winners’ race at Dromahane.

It Came To Pass, a course winner last Easter, Oscar Contender and Macs Legend are others to feature as possible runners for Sunday’s three-mile contest which is due to be the last of seven races in Mallow.

Willie Mullins' Billaway and track recruit Heydour had been entered for the race but did not meet the conditions of the race and were deemed not qualified.