17:15 Fairyhouse

Tuesday 17 April 2018

All16:0516:4017:1517:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final (Grade B)

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 6m 23.60s

Monkshood⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| BF| C

12/1

Course winner who was beaten favourite last time out in a Clonmel Grade 3 novice hurdle when tailed off finishing distressed in February. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 31-1145

Poli Roi^t⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

10/1

Failed to build on a win at Down Royal in November when winning a 2m6f maiden hurdle on soft ground. Market likely to be the best guide here.

Form: 13-215P

Speak Easy⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 134| BF| D

4/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Navan before Christmas, ran a fine race in 2m Grade 2 novice behind Hardline at Naas on soft ground in February. Best form gives him a claim.

Form: 1-153

Moyhenna²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 130

9/1

Solid and consistent in four starts since December just failing to land a well deserved hat-trick when second of 11 in a Limerick Grade 3 contest last month. More on her plate here but likely to give a good account of herself.

Form: 334112

Mischievious Max³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 129

16/1

Just the one win from nine over timber but run plenty credible races, including in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 222209

Mortal^t⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 127

14/1

Shown some promise in maiden hurdles without opening account, but appears to be facing stiff enough ask on handicap debut from this mark. Betting likely to reveal more.

Form: 1-4F22

Massey's Wood⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 125| D

6/1

Much-improved effort when taking 3m Thurles maiden hurdle in February on soft going, back in trip for handicap bow but merits some scrutiny after last-time-out success.

Form: 12551

Best Behavior⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 125

9/1

Winner of heavy-ground Naas maiden in February over 2m3f, likes to race prominently but held back at same venue since and calls for improvement in this deeper field.

Form: 9-3712

High Sparrow²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 125

20/1

Punchestown maiden hurdle winner over this trip in February, though couldn't land any sort of blow on Minella Fair at Clonmel next time. Even on revised terms, turnaround is hard to foresee.

Form: 2112

Agent Boru⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 119| D

10/1

Ten-race maiden over hurdles but has run some pleasing races in strong handicaps from higher marks, trip no concern and could run into the money.

Form: 045580

Ben Brody^p1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: M J Bolger| T: S Byrne| OR: 113

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner, hasn't truly looked like getting off the mark in handicaps. Step in the right direction at Limerick (2m3f, heavy) last month but still work to do in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 725063

Young Paddymc^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: A E Lynch| T: T Gibney| OR: 110

7/1

Improved on handicap debut at Down Royal to score on heavy ground over 2m5½f recently, raised 8lb and facing a tough assignment this time, there could well be more under the bonnet.

Form: 4831

Castafiore Park²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 109| D

10/1

Filly didn't need to improve when justifying odds-on favouritism in Limerick maiden hurdle last month over 2m5f on heavy ground. Good bit more demanded this time but lurking on a low weight.

Form: 152321

Forecasts

Speak Easy (4/1), Massey's Wood (6/1), Young Paddymc (7/1), Moyhenna (9/1), Best Behavior (9/1), Agent Boru (10/1), Poli Roi (10/1), Castafiore Park (10/1), Monkshood (12/1), Mortal (14/1), Mischievious Max (16/1), High Sparrow (20/1), Ben Brody (25/1)

The early pace in the race in the early stages from Monkshood and Castafiore Park could set the race nicely up for the likes of last time out winners Massey's Wood, the in form Moyhenna and the improving SPEAK EASY to battle out the finish in this competitive Grade B hurdle.