18:45 Fairyhouse

Monday 24 September 2018

All15:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:45

Fairyhouse Winter Festival 1st & 2nd December Handicap

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 2m 8.22s

(13)

Tennessee Wildcat⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: J P Shinnick⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 96

18/1

Got his head back in front at Tipperary posting a sixth career win before a disconcerting effort at the Curragh earlier in the month in a competitive handicap.

Form: 568310

(7)

Still Standing⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| BF| D

5/2

Distance winner who failed to land a hat-trick of wins in a 19-runner handicap earlier in the month on good ground over 1m2f. Definite promise based on seasonal stats.

Form: 731-119

(12)

Lethal Power^b¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 89| D

5/1

Made it three wins from six seasonal starts when landing a Gowran Park handicap over the extended 9f on good to firm ground recently off a 3lb lower mark. Capable of another big run.

Form: 141261

(2)

Elm Grove¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: W J Lee| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 81| D

20/1

Won over this trip in a Ballinrobe handicap in July off a 2lb lower mark. Well down the firld on her tow most recent starts on soft ground and another struggle looks likely.

Form: 5-01756

(10)

Alcatraz⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Brien| OR: 78| D

12/1

Only win since his maiden success back in 2015 came at the Curragh in June but has struggled on three occasions since from his revised handicap mark. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 261776

(5)

Arthurian Fame⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| D

11/4

Distance winner of a three-runner Navan maiden in June. Beaten since but ran well in defeat at Killarney and Gowran Park. Worth a market check.

Form: 221340

(3)

Sheila's Hope^h³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 78| CD

14/1

C&D winner on her only visit to the course in May. The filly has continued to improve over the summer and is now 25lb higher than her win here. Doesn't appear to have reached her peak yet.

Form: 111201

(6)

New Direction¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 75| D

12/1

Distance winner but has largely been well held since return to action in July. Yard struggling of late being one from 38 in the last fortnight.

Form: 64-8203

(8)

Tremendous Leap^b³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80

11/1

Solid and consistent sort who deservedly won a Curragh 1m handicap last month off a 2lb higher mark. Beaten since at Killarney but can go well again in this company.

Form: 232214

(1)

Important Message¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 73

33/1

93-rated handicapper for Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor in 2016, but sold cheaply for £2,500 in November 2017. Nothing of note in a number of starts over the summer and unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 97/6408

(9)

California Lad^p1,t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: F Birrane| OR: 73| D

33/1

Beaten but not disgraced in a series of starts since June. First-time cheekpieces fitted hoping to inspire first turf win for over two years.

Form: 504260

Non-Runners

(11)

Tirmizi⁸⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: M Halford J: Ronan Whelan

(4)

Aztec Eagle¹²

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: D K Weld J: Declan McDonogh

Forecasts

Still Standing (5/2), Arthurian Fame (11/4), Lethal Power (5/1), Aztec Eagle (8/1), Tremendous Leap (11/1), New Direction (12/1), Alcatraz (12/1), Tirmizi (12/1), Sheila's Hope (14/1), Tennessee Wildcat (18/1), Elm Grove (20/1), Important Message (33/1), California Lad (33/1)

Early speed in the initial part of the race is expected to come from Shelia's Hope and Lethal Power. The pace will be ideal for the Jessica Harrington-trained STILL STANDING to win his third race of the campaign following on from a slight hiccup at the Curragh earlier this month. Tremedous Leap, who has ben solid and consistent all season and Jim Bolger's New Direction can both go well at a price.