17:50 Fairyhouse

Tuesday 17 April 2018

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

RYBO Handicap Hurdle (Grade A)

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 4m 5.10s

Landofhopeandglory^b1,t⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145| CD

33/1

Won the Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice chase at Roscommon in September but has been subsequently well beaten in two starts since. Looks a tall order from top weight even in first-time blinkers.

Form: 41F10U

Tigris River^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145| D

50/1

Nothing of any note in a number of hurdle starts since December including being pulled up last time out when weakening quickly in the County hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Form: 19060P

Abbyssial³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr W J Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

20/1

C&D winner who has struggled since returning to the track following a long lay-off including being pulled-up last time out in the Grade 3 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham festival. Market should be informative.

Form: 16F0/4P

Voix Du Reve^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

10/1

Looked to be in with every chance two out in the Grade 3 Coral Cup before weakening quickly to fade to finish 21L adrift of Bleu Berry. Sure to appreciate drop back to 2m.

Form: 2F2/890

Meri Devie³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| D

11/1

Improved steadily throughout the season but found the another step in to Grade 3 company a step too far finishing 13th of 24 in the County hurdle. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 224510

Morgan¹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

12/1

Well beaten in a Navan Grade 3 novice hurdle in November before being a possible pacemaker for Mengli Khan in Grade 1 Royal Bond here in December when last seen. Unlikely to figure here.

Form: 121234

Pravalaguna^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

33/1

Not a lot to shout about in two starts since joining powerful stable including disappointing in Mares' hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. Improvement possible but unlikely in this company.

Form: F2-3F4P

Karalee^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF

20/1

Has shown signs of promise in her last two starts both last month but well beaten and never a factor racing at Grade 3 level in December and requires plenty of improvement here.

Form: 3-38P32

Duca De Thaix^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

14/1

Distance winner ion the Grade 3 Irish Independent hurdle at Limerick in December. Not sighted in the County hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 11-4160

Yaha Fizz⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

6/1

Well beaten and never a factor in three handicap hurdle starts since December for former yard and market likely to reveal expectations on first start for Grand National winning yard.

Form: 11-2367

Destin D'Ajonc^t1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

20/1

Finished third of seven in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad hurdle at Naas in January before disappointing at Leopardstown last month. Worth a market check for powerful connections

Form: 1-636

Nessun Dorma²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

14/1

Missed most of the season before travelling well until two out on return to the track in the Listed Kingsfurze novice hurdle at Navan last month. Sure to come on for the run and market likely to be informative.

Form: 113

Uradel⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

4/1

Gelding that has had plenty of problems in the past. Winner in both starts this season but this looks a tough ask despite stable jockey taking the ride.

Form: 543/11

Orion D'Aubrelle¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129

33/1

Beaten a total of 53L in two hurdle spins last year including a heavy defeat when last seen at Limerick in December. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 515-5

Charlie Stout^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 126| D

33/1

Well beaten and no impression in two handicap hurdle starts last month and requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 274086

Gran Geste³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 126| D

10/1

Slight signs of improvement in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle last month over 2m when finishing fifth of 10 beaten 6L. Market likely to be best guide for powerful owner.

Form: 1155

Play The Game⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: A E Lynch| T: T Gibney| OR: 125| CD

9/1

C&D winner last time out in a maiden hurdle in January beating 23 rivals with Champagne Lady 1L back in second. Quite a bit more needed here.

Form: 2F451

Low Sun^p⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123

25/1

Distance winner who has unreliable form including finishing second of 14 beaten a head before tailing off on handicap hurdle debut in his last two starts. Market check could be worthwhile.

Form: 1420

True Self⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| D

12/1

Distance winner who finished fourth of 11 beaten 25L on her last start in the Grade 3 Solerina novice hurdle here in January. This is a tougher assignment.

Form: 2-11124

Forecasts

Uradel (4/1), Yaha Fizz (6/1), Play The Game (9/1), Voix Du Reve (10/1), Gran Geste (10/1), Meri Devie (11/1), Morgan (12/1), True Self (12/1), Duca De Thaix (14/1), Nessun Dorma (14/1), Karalee (20/1), Destin D'Ajonc (20/1), Abbyssial (20/1), Low Sun (25/1), Charlie Stout (33/1), Pravalaguna (33/1), Orion D'Aubrelle (33/1), Landofhopeandglory (33/1), Tigris River (50/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained Yaha Fizz usually likes to get on with things from the front and could possibly lead the way again with Orion D'Aubrelle, Play The Game and Low Sun chasing in behind. If coming back to his best Abbyssial along with top weight Landofhopeandglory can grab a place behind GRAN GESTE who appears to be on a handy mark given wins in a Thurles bumper and a Navan maiden hurdle before Christmas.