15:15 Fairyhouse

Monday 2 April 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2517:0017:4518:15

Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle (0-140)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 6m 36.0s

C'Est Jersey^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

20/1

Winner at Punchestown Festival last April (2m4f, good to yielding) from a mark of 131, went well here over fences in January but tame effort at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup and remains 6lb higher than previous winning mark.

Form: 101-2P0

Kilfenora⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 134

11/1

Landed competitive 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown in February having reverted from chasing. Has been put up 7lb for that success and drops slightly in trip today.

Form: 5673P1

Stand Up And Fight⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: E Bolger| OR: 134

14/1

Out of form in two starts over fences most recently, smart effort in Grade 2 novice event here in April over shorter trip. Unexposed over this trip and wouldn't be the biggest shock to see him in the mix.

Form: 1342-P4

Burren Life⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

12/1

Led to two out when lost shoe and eventually finished third in Limerick Grade 2 hurdle in December over 3m, has been disappointing in pair of runs since despite being strong in betting.

Form: 312353

Carrig Cathal^t1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 131

33/1

Three wins from 11 starts over hurdles, reaching a mark of 137 having run in some hot handicaps last spring. Laboured stuff here in February over 2m4f on return to action / first start for this trainer. Plenty to work on as such.

Form: 3240-U0

Drumacoo³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: M Hourigan| OR: 128| D

9/1

Best run (from three) for this yard came here over fences in February. Didn't run badly next time over 2m4f here jumping the smaller obstacles and from the same mark over a longer trip may go well.

Form: 14/U-524

Dysios^p1,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D Cullen| OR: 127

20/1

Been chasing over shorter trip this term, on a fair rating back over timber and sports first-time cheekpieces, though must produce more than has been the case of late.

Form: 310935

Moonshine Bay⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 127

14/1

Made £120,000 after winning point-to-point last spring. Bit disappointing in first two starts over hurdles, but much better when landing Clonmel 2m3f maiden hurdle before finding step up in trip and class last time out too much.

Form: 4-1861P

Miles To Memphis^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 126

12/1

Useful dual purpose performer who has been running well since switched back to hurdles lately. 6L behind Kilfenora last time over 3m off this rating.

Form: 8-43265

Ah Littleluck^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: A E Lynch| T: T Gibney| OR: 124

25/1

Hasn't won since June 2016, though did show some decent form last summer. Weakened rapidly on return to action here over 2m4f in February and needs that run to have sharpened him significantly.

Form: 0-56508

Bargy Lady^h³⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124

8/1

Maiden hurdle winner, anything but disgraced in 3m handicap here back in April in first outing in that sphere. Absent since, rated 1lb higher and big run could be forthcoming for the champion trainer.

Form: 242214-

O Ceallaigh²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 123| C

20/1

Found only one too good (beaten 29L) when switched back to hurdles over this trip at Thurles last time, runs off the same mark now, but must improve on that form to get slice of the prize money.

Form: 324-752

Shannak¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 123| C

12/1

Three-time winner here, twice over C&D, close second at Cork recently over 3m and despite being up 3lb for that, would be dangerous to rule out a big run back at this venue.

Form: 4456F2

Space Cadet²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

7/2

In useful form over fences this season without winning, looks to exploit lower mark over hurdles here but will have to run to his best to pull it off. Respected for Elliott team.

Form: 7-69342

Josies Orders¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 119

25/1

Cross County specialist, reverts to hurdling again and likely to find a few stronger in this line-up.

Form: 623026

Peace N' Milan¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: C J Maher⁽⁷⁾| T: F J Flood| OR: 117| C

20/1

Winner at Gowran Park over 2m4f in January, has twice run fair races since from increased mark, though will still require a career-best to land the spoils here.

Form: P83136

Twiss's Hill¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 117| D

25/1

Solid effort in 3m Cork handicap recently when switched back to hurdles, this contest is a good deal tougher but at least suggested he can be competitive from this rating.

Form: 2-22474

Rightdownthemiddle¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 112| C| D

33/1

String of poor efforts this season over timber, handicapper hasn't exactly been quick to offer assistance and likely faces another tough afternoon.

Form: 80P680

Hollow Tree¹³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: M Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 111| BF

20/1

Run well enough in three starts this season for Gordon Elliott without winning, not spotted since November and potentially on a decent mark if able to show more on return, which is possible.

Form: 284-227

Vision D'Ete¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 121

10/1

Lightly-raced Cork maiden hurdle winner (2m) in December. Up in trip significantly for this handicap debut and one to keep an eye on in the betting.

Form: 421

Non-Runners

Jimmy Breekie⁶⁸

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Space Cadet (7/2), Bargy Lady (8/1), Drumacoo (9/1), Vision D'Ete (10/1), Kilfenora (11/1), Miles To Memphis (12/1), Shannak (12/1), Burren Life (12/1), Stand Up And Fight (14/1), Moonshine Bay (14/1), Jimmy Breekie (16/1), Peace N' Milan (20/1), C'Est Jersey (20/1), O Ceallaigh (20/1), Hollow Tree (20/1), Dysios (20/1), Ah Littleluck (25/1), Twiss's Hill (25/1), Josies Orders (25/1), Carrig Cathal (33/1), Rightdownthemiddle (33/1)

Barry Geraghty's decision to partner STAND UP AND FIGHT is worth noting. He produced a useful effort here in a Grade 2 novice last season and remains thoroughly unexposed over this sort of trip in handicaps. That the jockey overlooks Punchestown winner Kilfenora is perhaps a sign that better things may be in store. Space Cadet has shown decent form over fences and commands a fair chunk of respect reverting to this discipline for the Elliott team while Shannak loves this place and comes back here in fine form. Handicap debutant Vision D'ete and Drumacoo complete the shortlist.