13:00 Fairyhouse

Saturday 26 January 2019

All12:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Bobbyjo Bistro Great Food Great Deals Handicap Chase (0-109)

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 6m 56.30s

Guided By You¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 109

8/1

3m maiden hurdle winner, shown some promise over fences at Punchestown of late but ultimately tends to be undone by the jumping, as was the case when falling there recently.

Form: 05375F

Gunfire Reef³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 109| BF

5/1

Deservedly got off the mark for connections at the 11th time of asking over the larger obstacles, winning a 15-runner Punchestown handicap in November. Carried an 8lb penalty when runner-up at Thurles (3m½f, good) since. Another 3lb added now.

Form: 502312

I'm An Izz Wizz^b1¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 109

16/1

Three-time chase winner but last of them back in 2017. Has had 10 races this season and rarely suggested next win is imminent, though better last time at Punchestown (2m4f, good). Sports first-time hood in effort to build on that.

Form: 485854

Nicole's Milan²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: S Aherne| OR: 109| C

9/1

Winner here 11 months ago over 2m5f but genuine mixed bag of efforts since, mostly disappointing, and is hard to be confident about now.

Form: 3U-F640

Home Place¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 106

25/1

Fair effort here on New Year's Day in beginners' chase, though well beaten since in a novice contest over 2m4f (good), initial mark may be steep enough.

Form: 000036

Big Bad Brian^t⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 104

16/1

Has failed to build on initial chasing promise of finishing second of 11 at Downpatrick (2m7½f, good) in June with a number of desolate efforts since. Hard to place any faith in after short layoff.

Form: 257PP8

Lacken Bridge²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 104

16/1

Won a Gowran Park handicap chase over 2m off a 5lb lower mark in November, his second win over fences in four starts. Unable to mount a challenge over C&D on New Year's Day however when back up in distance.

Form: 81-51R9

Bridies Boy^b²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 100

20/1

Dramatic change in fortune when staying on well to win Cork beginners chase over 2m4f (soft) earlier in the month sporting first-time blinkers. Up 5lb with headgear retained.

Form: FP-UF01

Thekingofconnemara³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: C D Maxwell| T: J G Carr| OR: 100

33/1

Now 12-years-old and is 0-9 over fences, best of this season's efforts did come over similar trip here in November. Poor in two runs since, but on a fair mark starting out for new yard.

Form: P65270

Kayf Thou¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

20/1

Uninspiring sort to this point, failing to achieve anything bar a succession of wide-margin defeats in six starts over hurdles/fences. First start in a handicap here, big change in fortune will be called for.

Form: 657-006

Gotaway¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 92| C

4/1

Trio of maiden hurdle runs in autumn of 2017 brought little cheer, hard to make a case for now jumping regulation fences for the first time.

Form: 7-U0821

See Double You³⁷

Age: 16| Weight: 10-7| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 90

16/1

Retired by connections in August 2017, but in such rude health in the field he was brought back for an emotional Hexham success in September. Went well again there last month (second), this looks more competitive however.

Form: 20-1582

Witness Of Fashion^p³¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 87| CD

14/1

Found life tough since his win at Leopardstown in March but starting to get some respite from the handicapper. Yet to offer notion he's ready to take advantage but now 1lb below previous winning mark.

Form: 1U-4686

Fergiethelegend^v⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Carr| OR: 83| D

10/1

Still capable enough despite advancing years and new visor appears to have sparked some more life into him with recent runs at Thurles and Navan. Liable to bag place money at best, however.

Form: 407733

Polish Partisan^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-12| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 81

16/1

Veteran, without a win in 34 starts over obstacles and unable to even make the frame in 15 previous outings over fences. Shaped well enough over similar trip here in November, but still a shock should be break duck now.

Form: 5-F4040

Highest Benefit^t²⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W J Austin| OR: 79| BF

10/1

22-race maiden, though did go close in this sort of event at Clonmel (2m7f, heavy) in March. Back from a layoff now and record fresh suggests this run will be needed.

Form: U66626-

Night Sir^p⁷³

Age: 13| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: Ms H P Markham| OR: 79

50/1

Still a maiden under Rules despite veteran status, and while he ran well when third to Jaunty Thor here in November over 2m5f, he was swatted aside eight days later upped in trip and is running from out of the handicap now.

Form: 03-0636

Non-Runners

The Church Gate²⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: M J Smith J: A E Lynch

Forecasts

Gotaway (4/1), Gunfire Reef (5/1), Guided By You (8/1), The Church Gate (8/1), Nicole's Milan (9/1), Fergiethelegend (10/1), Highest Benefit (10/1), Witness Of Fashion (14/1), See Double You (16/1), Polish Partisan (16/1), I'm An Izz Wizz (16/1), Lacken Bridge (16/1), Big Bad Brian (16/1), Kayf Thou (20/1), Bridies Boy (20/1), Home Place (25/1), Thekingofconnemara (33/1), Night Sir (50/1)

THE CHURCH GATE has been flying over hurdles this term, looking an improved performer with his pair of wins. He's on a perfectly workable mark here if transferring that sort of form to chasing and can complete his hat-trick. Similarly, the in-form Gunfire Reef needs maximum respect despite inching up the ratings for a runner-up finish at Thurles. Bridies Boy left previous form well behind when winning at Cork in beginners' company and is on the radar for this along with veteran Fergiethelegend and Thekingofconnemara, should be benefit from his recent relocation.