14:05 Fairyhouse

Sunday 3 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:40

Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle (Grade A)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 4m 2.20s

Ivanovich Gorbatov^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 150| D

20/1

Top juvenile hurdler two seasons ago but not at that level since, mostly finishing down the field in Graded company. Not convincing when last of the finishers in the Greatwood last time and a revival is needed off top weight.

Form: 34336-0

Tigris River^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 149| D

16/1

Beaten 22L in the Greatwood Hurdle last time but was in good form prior to that, including when winning the Galway Hurdle in August. 9lb higher so needs to find more now.

Form: 45-7119

Bleu Et Rouge²⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

10/1

Not seen since February and makes his first start over hurdles since when fifth in the Top Novices Hurdle in April 2016. Could be in the mix if overcoming the lay-off.

Form: 1F5/1U4-

Chateau Conti²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| C| D

12/1

A winner over 2m4f here last month but is also effective over this trip, so interesting in conditions which should suit even though he has been raised 6lb.

Form: 116PP-1

Ted Veale²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 140| D

12/1

Has showed he retains ability recently both over jumps and on the Flat despite being the oldest horse in this line-up, though this hurdles mark is high enough for him.

Form: 8/U60-12

Top Othe Ra¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: R M Power| T: T Mullins| OR: 136| D

10/1

Seeks a hat-trick having won two good contests the last twice. This represents another step up in grade however, and this mark looks tricky for him.

Form: 112611

Yaha Fizz¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 135| D

16/1

Beat by Top Othe Ra at Punchestown last time and has gone up 3lb following that race, has proven he can win races but may find this too tough.

Form: 46111-2

Davids Charm^h⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Walsh| OR: 134

8/1

In-form gelding who came within a neck of landing a hat-trick at Listowel last time out. Up another 7lb but remains progressive and no reason that he can't step up again.

Form: 007-112

Meri Devie^h1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF| D

6/1

Ran a fine race to be second in the Fishery Lane hurdle at Naas last time. That was despite racing keenly, so encouraging to see her fitted with a first-time hood and she holds strong claims.

Form: 143-02

Ben Dundee⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

7/2

A winner over further at Punchestown last time out over further than this, raised 10lb on his second start for this yard but step down in trip shouldn't be an issue.

Form: 57245-1

Charlie Stout^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Nolan| OR: 130| D

14/1

Has finished second in his last three hurdle races, including when narrowly denied by Top Othe Ra last time out. Raised 4lb from that race and faces his toughest task yet here.

Form: 11P2-22

Time For Mabel^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 130| D

25/1

Dual purpose performer who hasn't won since July 2015, and hasn't been particularly impressive on either the level or over hurdles recently.

Form: 0400-43

Highland Fling²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129| D

12/1

Not beaten far in the Irish November Handicap last time, also won his last hurdles race but is 11lb higher now; any further rain a bonus for him.

Form: 1604-41

Housesofparliament^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| BF| D

20/1

Classic-placed on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien but yet to deliver on that promise over hurdles. 36L behind Top Othe Ra last time and needs to turn that form around.

Form: 27-139

She's A Star¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 128| D

16/1

Recent form not as bad as some of these, but she has been behind a few of these in recent races, including the Irish November Handicap on the Flat.

Form: 12PP-43

Timi Roli⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126| BF

16/1

Hasn't looked up to taking a big handicap like this so far, but is open to more improvement than most of these and he put in an encouraging effort over this trip at Tipperary last time.

Form: 124792

Veinard^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

20/1

Just 1/20 over hurdles so far, has place form in better events than this but effort at Down Royal last time was mildly disappointing last time.

Form: 7626-48

West Coast Time^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 122| D

20/1

Maiden hurdle winner and fair bumper form last season (though came up short at the very highest level), and steps back down in trip here having disappointed over further at Limerick last time. Should be much more effective here.

Form: 120-15

Agent Boru²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: T Gibney| OR: 122

33/1

0/8 under rules and looks a long way off the best of these racing from 2lb out of the handicap after a 15L defeat in a maiden hurdle last time.

Form: 7342-04

Laverteen²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 122| D

20/1

Not convincing in maiden hurdles so far this season, and this looks a tough ask on handicap debut from 2lb out of the weights.

Form: 26/1-324

Forecasts

Ben Dundee (7/2), Meri Devie (6/1), Davids Charm (8/1), Bleu Et Rouge (10/1), Top Othe Ra (10/1), Highland Fling (12/1), Ted Veale (12/1), Chateau Conti (12/1), Charlie Stout (14/1), Yaha Fizz (16/1), She's A Star (16/1), Tigris River (16/1), Timi Roli (16/1), Veinard (20/1), Housesofparliament (20/1), Laverteen (20/1), West Coast Time (20/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (20/1), Time For Mabel (25/1), Agent Boru (33/1)

This is a predictably tough handicap to solve, where Tigris River is of obvious interest on his form prior to slightly disappointing in the Greatwood Hurdle last time and should be able to do better here. However it may pay to side with an option further down the weights, and a chance is taken on WEST COAST TIME. Joseph O'Brien's charge obviously needs to bounce back from a 34L beating at Limerick last time, but the drop in trip should be exactly what he wants and on the basis of his maiden hurdle win at Gowran Park he should have more to offer. Top Othe Ra has been in excellent form recently and is another to consider, along with Meri Devie and Ben Dundee.