15:50 Fairyhouse

Monday 2 April 2018

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

Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 5m 58.6s

Bapaume⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

20/1

Grade 1 scorer at Punchestown last spring, has acquitted himself well in decent company this term and could easily have place claims here. One of a battalion representing champion trainer in this.

Form: 31-2383

Bleu Berry¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C

8/1

Landed the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month, surprising everyone having gone off a 20/1 poke. Again likely to be one of Mullins' lesser touted runners in this but has won four from seven over timber and fair claims.

Form: 1115-01

Diamond Cauchois^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| D

7/2

Record of two wins in four starts this term, landing Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan (2m5f, soft to heavy) last time. Holds Bapaume on that form. More on his plate this time however.

Form: 01-3131

Renneti^b¹⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| CD

16/1

Dual purpose performer is a C&D winner and reverts here having been operating on the Flat recently. Needs to bring his best stuff and on first hurdles start in almost a year, others might be sharper, though did win this last year.

Form: 3/23816-

Coquin Mans^h¹¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| BF

7/1

Second to subsequent Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon earlier in the season at Down Royal, he seemed to have the race at his mercy at Clonmel (3m, heavy) in December when slipping and coming down late on. Appears first choice of the Closutton gang.

Form: 1-1122S

Jezki^b²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 153| CD

6/1

Former high-class two-miler and Champion Hurdle winner, he got back to winning ways at Leopardstown last month when holding off Lieutenant Colonel over 2m2f. Respected but likely a couple of these younger rivals will best him.

Form: 5-12541

Augusta Kate¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| CD

8/1

Grade 1 scorer against her own sex over C&D this month last year, she's been asked some tough questions in exalted company this term, latest when running fair race in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Probably facing another hard task.

Form: 15-6429

Lieutenant Colonel^b,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

33/1

Held behind Jezki last time at Leopardstown, has won over the C&D before but this is a hot-looking contest and others are holding more obvious claims on paper.

Form: 34P221

Forge Meadow⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 148| C

5/1

Mare had Identity Thief in second when scoring in 2m Gowran Park Grade 3 in February. Wouldn't be certain to confirm placings over this longer trip.

Form: 551221

Let's Dance^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

12/1

Had 8L to spare on Forge Meadow over this trip at Leopardstown at Christmas, though didn't do things as easily as might have been liked. Two poor runs since, including a fall in the Stayers' at Cheltenham. Leaves her with questions to answer.

Form: 24-F15F

Barra^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| C

9/1

Only 1½L behind Bleu Berry in the Coral Cup last time at Cheltenham, often runs well but record of 1-13 (six placed efforts) so far over timber suggests she'll likely take a minor role again.

Form: 6-23423

Non-Runners

Bleu Et Rouge¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: J S McGarvey

Identity Thief²⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Diamond Cauchois (7/2), Forge Meadow (5/1), Jezki (6/1), Coquin Mans (7/1), Bleu Berry (8/1), Augusta Kate (8/1), Identity Thief (8/1), Barra (9/1), Let's Dance (12/1), Bleu Et Rouge (12/1), Renneti (16/1), Bapaume (20/1), Lieutenant Colonel (33/1)

Bleu Berry, Identity Thief and Barra all come here after positive efforts (a win for the first named) and hold claims on that form but those were tough races on soft ground and the turnaround is quick. COQUIN MANS on the other hand has enjoyed a nice break since he was very unfortunate to slip at Clonmel in December with a race at his mercy. His second to stablemate Melon prior to that reads very well now and he can land this for the champion trainer, who dominates the entry. Last year's winner Renneti is respected while Jezki and Forge Meadow are also worth a second glance.