FAIRYHOUSE is aiming to secure a new Grade 1 chase for its Easter Monday card.

The racecourse has a new €80,000 Grade 2 chase on its Irish Grand National card this year and the aim is to have it upgraded to the top level within three years. The two and a half mile chase is scheduled to be run just before the €500,000 feature race.

Track manager Peter Roe said: “We’re very grateful to Devenish Nutrition for their sponsorship of this chase. Fairyhouse already has two Grade 1 chases – the Drinmore and the Ryanair Gold Cup – both for novices. It’s time we had a Grade 1 for open chasers as well.”

The Easter Monday card has improved in quality in recent times. The BoyleSports Irish Grand National is Ireland’s richest chase and was won by a genuine Grade 1 horse in Our Duke last year. There are now three Grade 2 races on the card and the bumper has been won by Don Cossack and Samcro in recent years.

“Total prize money for the Easter Festival is now over €1.5 million, so it will play a major part in determining the outcome of the trainers’ championship,” he said.

Roe is very happy with entries for the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup, published this week. Footpad, Petit Mouchoir and Invitation Only are among the 37 entries for the Easter Sunday race which last year was won by Road To Respect.

There are four entries from Britain, hailing from the yards of Paul Nicholls, Harry Fry and Dan Skelton. Nicky Henderson, Fergal O’Brien, Dan Skelton, Emma Lavelle and Anthony Honeyball have made entries for the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.