12:40 Fairyhouse

Saturday 15 December 2018

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Sky Sports Racing Launching January 1st Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 6m 21.30s

Champagne Harmony¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 129

25/1

Poor form in five starts this year over hurdles/fences, failing to complete in four and walking home here over 2m4f (hurdles, good) this month. Winless since May 2017 and positives are few and far between right now.

Form: UPPP-P0

Close Shave²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 128| C

12/1

Narrow winner of a novice chase over 2m4f (soft to heavy), pulled up in trio of very competitive handicap chases in the spring. Back from a layoff and worth a betting check in what may be calmer waters.

Form: 312PPP-

Poormans Hill^b1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 128| CD

12/1

Gordon Elliott got an excellent return from him last season but three starts this season suggest the handicapper has him cornered for now. Well beaten in the Troytown at Navan latest, this is less competitive.

Form: 1P7-400

Young Turk^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 127| D

7/1

Won a beginners' chase over this sort of trip at Tipperary in October before taking a tumble at Cork and then finishing down the field at Navan in the Troytown. Work to be done seemingly.

Form: 3-451F0

Dinnie's Vinnie^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 124| CD

9/2

Career-best to win Porterstown Handicap Chase here (3m5f, good) earlier this month. Relishes a dour stamina test, gone up 7lb for that win but entitled to be in the mix again.

Form: 184-161

Cherokee Bill¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 123

7/1

Three good runs over fences so far at up to 2m5f, without winning. Going the right way, albeit some room for doubt over this extended journey.

Form: 79-7323

Mick The Jiver²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 122| D

18/1

Solid campaigner looking to add to his three wins over the larger obstacles, though he is possibly still in the grips of the handicapper running from 4lb above previous win-mark. Poor so far this season.

Form: 355-F67

Kilkishen^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 120

25/1

Failed to truly convince in three hurdles runs after two years off and no immediate signs of better in two more recent start over fences. Bit to prove.

Form: 3/5634P

Consharon Boy^p,t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: T O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

6/1

Kilbeggan winner over 3m1f (good) in June, capable of having a say on his day, though comes here on the back of two mishaps at Listowel and Gowran Park in the autumn.

Form: 3-134UF

Capture The Drama⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 116| C| D

14/1

Frontrunner produced a dramatic turnaround in fortunes when scoring over 2m2f at Clonmel on yielding ground this month, after a series of poor showings. Has often failed to back a winning effort up and 6lb higher in rating now.

Form: 0670P1

Nobody Home¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Cawley| OR: 115| C| D

3/1

Galway run over similar trip in October when fourth behind subsequent Troytown winners Tout Est Permis is interesting. Very easy winner here over hurdles this month, and strong chance of going well again in this discipline.

Form: 984801

Forecasts

Nobody Home (3/1), Dinnie's Vinnie (9/2), Consharon Boy (6/1), Cherokee Bill (7/1), Young Turk (7/1), Poormans Hill (12/1), Close Shave (12/1), Capture The Drama (14/1), Mick The Jiver (18/1), Kilkishen (25/1), Champagne Harmony (25/1)

The form of NOBODY HOME's Galway fourth in October now reads nicely with the winner having won the Troytown in good style since. The selections won as he pleased over hurdles here a fortnight ago and, off bottom weight, could take some pegging back here. Capture The Drama went well from the front at Clonmel to score recently and is respected while Dinnie's Vinnie is also considered despite a hike in the ratings for winning here over a marathon trip last time. Close Shave and Consharon Boy have their merits and are worth tracking in the betting.