13:10 Fairyhouse

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Racing On New Years Day 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 4m 12.40s

Buffalo Blues²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

50/1

Once a 79-rated handicapper on the Flat for Ger Lyons though well beaten on hurdling and stable debut last month finishing 13th of 16 at Gowran Park. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 0

Callthebarman²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Will need to improve significantly following two heavy defeats at Punchestown and Gowran Park last month beaten a total of 118L.

Form: 60

North Carolina⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Failed to land a blow on the Flat for Aiden O'Brien before disappointing on two hurdle starts for current yard at Punchestown and more recently at Cork when well beaten 63L behind Vision D'ete.

Form: 50

Ontheiflist^t⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H Rogers

14/1

Was a credit to his yard over the summer in a series of solid and consistent starts winning at Roscommon in August. May have to settle for a place here.

Form:

Percy⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

8/1

97-rated handicapper on the Flat finishing last of nine well beaten last time out by 26L for Ger Lyons. Worth a market check on hurdling and stable debut.

Form:

Sil Ver Klass^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin

50/1

Modest Flat performer and well beaten a total of 82L on his first two starts over hurdles last month. Well out of his depth in this company.

Form: 79

Sometimes A Fox¹⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/1

Consistent maiden for John Joseph Murphy without winning with solid performances at Dundalk on the AW and at Gowran Park. Worth a market check on stable and hurdling debut.

Form:

State Of The Art⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien

50/1

Connections would have hoped for better in two career hurdle starts beaten a total of 108L at Gowran Park and Cork over 2m. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 60

Verse Of Love³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

25/1

Unseated on debut when coming in to contention on hurdling debut at Gowran Park over 2m but not much better last month at Fairyhouse when 34L behind the winner. Vast improvement needed to figure.

Form: U9

Ali's Girl^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss T L Cogan

100/1

Poor Flat performer was well beaten on hurdling debut at Gowran Park over 2m on heavy ground last month 55L behind the winner Mastermind. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 0

Stormy Ireland²²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

2/7

Trainer has a 45% strike-rate with his debut runners and this French import is likely to be a warm order for powerful yard.

Form: 2-2

Forecasts

Stormy Ireland (2/7), Sometimes A Fox (5/1), Percy (8/1), Ontheiflist (14/1), North Carolina (25/1), Verse Of Love (25/1), Sil Ver Klass (50/1), State Of The Art (50/1), Buffalo Blues (50/1), Callthebarman (66/1), Ali's Girl (100/1)

Given the running style on the Flat of Percy it is likely he may make the running on his own here with Buffalo Blues and Ontheiflist in behind. The Gordon Elliott-trained stable debutante Sometimes A Fox is sure to be popular in the market and could be one for the future but may have to play second-fiddle to French recruit STORMY ISLAND who makes his debut for Willie Mullins.