15:20 Fairyhouse

Saturday 26 January 2019

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

Easter Festival 21st -23rd April Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:24 | Winning time: 5m 24.9s

Darver Star⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell

5/1

Hints of ability in three-race career so far, two starts over hurdles. No better than midfield latest at Navan over this trip and improvement must come to have designs on better now.

Form: 659

Deal With It³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

11/4

Stepped up on bumper form to be 6L fourth of 17 on last month's hurdling introduction at Limerick (2m3f, soft to heavy), likely has more to come and could be better suited on the forecast improved surface.

Form: 444-4

Halsafari³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe

7/1

Promising start at Punchestown (2m, good) in May over timber, hit and miss in bumper/hurdles efforts since returning from summer recess, though latest fourth of 19 last month at Naas was notable. In the mix.

Form: 8694

Howitsdone¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: S Neville

66/1

Hasn't shown enough in two starts here after a long layoff to warrant support. Raced in front for a long way 11 days ago over 2m7f but ultimately tailed off.

Form: 64P/0-09

Maddenstown^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming

7/1

Promising fourth of 21 in a 2m Punchestown maiden hurdle earlier this month on second outing over timber. That sort of run bodes well for this afternoon, and there may be more forthcoming.

Form: 7-P84

Scorpion Knight^t1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 90

50/1

Tailed off and beaten 31L in a couple of hurdle starts last month. Hard to construct much of a case for the gelding in this contest.

Form: 9-7U00

The Dabbler⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack

9/2

Winning point-to-pointer, needs to improve on efforts over timber at Punchestown and Navan before the turn of the year. Drops back in distance with work to do starting for new trainer.

Form: 15-865

Baily Thunder⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M A Enright| T: M F Morris

22/1

Run three times in bumpers and each one carried promise in it, interesting to see how he fares now the obstacles are introduced. Worth a betting check.

Form: 777

Bill Hickok²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 102

25/1

Unplaced in four hurdles starts, including being pulled up over this trip at Kilbeggan in August. Well held over 2m at Tramore on New Year's Day and easier to make a case for some of his rivals.

Form: 6P69

Kearney^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

25/1

Price dropped from 42,000 gns as a foal to €12,000 as a yearling. Well held so far in maiden hurdles and may be more of a long-term project for Noel Meade.

Form: 9707

Skypunch¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young

66/1

Failed to complete in pair of point-to-point outings and has not come close to troubling the judge so far in trio of maiden hurdles. Hard to see a leading role.

Form: PP-009

State Of Cognac¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S G McDermott| T: R O'Sullivan

16/1

Went close in a bumper at Down Royal on good ground in May on second start, though that effort has been at odds with most of his other three runs. Back from a layoff to commence jumping career with caution advised.

Form: 8-468

Whydah⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 99

20/1

Three starts so far for Jessica Harrington's charge have not yielded much to be positive about. Comes back down in distance here and will need a dramatic improvement.

Form: 576

Belle West⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: W J Burke| OR: 86

25/1

Enterprising effort last time in attempting to win 2m Thurles maiden hurdle from the front, ultimately finishing 3L fourth of seven. Tougher task after a short break but amongst the more interesting ones in the line-up.

Form: 9786-4

Kiss Me Kayf⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott

25/1

Lots more called for after three disappointing efforts in bumpers and managing only ninth of 13 at Clonmel (2m1f, yielding) on hurdles bow.

Form: 6909

Miss Shoe City³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Proved disappointing in bumpers for the champion trainer and was unable to mount a challenge last month at Limerick (2m3f, soft to heavy) on hurdles bow. Gets Paul Townend for company, which won't do any harm.

Form: 4540

Sabichi⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

66/1

Sent off a 66/1 chance and beaten 58L on hurdles bow over this trip last month at Navan. Best watched for now on that evidence and previous bumper form.

Form: 860

Caddy Shack²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr J P Berry⁽⁷⁾| T: J A Berry

66/1

Tailed off in only hurdles run at Punchestown (2m, good) in November, finished last of six in a Leopardstown bumper last month on only start since and big ask here.

Form: 2PU006

Exit To The West²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden in this sphere and last month's heavy defeat at Cork (2m, soft) indicates that is likely to remain the case for the short-term future.

Form: P-5080

Fur Elise^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D A Love

33/1

Better showing in a Punchestown bumper (2m2f, good) on New Year's Eve (third start) and jockey booking of for hurdles bow is something of an eye-catcher. Worth a market check.

Form: 787

Pin Point Parity³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: D McDonogh

50/1

Court Cave filly whose dam was lightly raced in bumpers/over hurdles, has made next to no impact in four starts so far over timber and is bypassed again.

Form: 7700

Non-Runners

Kristofferson³¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: J Magnier J: C D Maxwell

A Dos No Bueno¹²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: C O'Dwyer J: Ricky Doyle

Forecasts

Deal With It (11/4), The Dabbler (9/2), Darver Star (5/1), Halsafari (7/1), Maddenstown (7/1), Kristofferson (14/1), State Of Cognac (16/1), Miss Shoe City (16/1), Whydah (20/1), Baily Thunder (22/1), Kiss Me Kayf (25/1), Kearney (25/1), Bill Hickok (25/1), Belle West (25/1), Fur Elise (33/1), Exit To The West (33/1), A Dos No Bueno (33/1), Scorpion Knight (50/1), Pin Point Parity (50/1), Sabichi (66/1), Caddy Shack (66/1), Skypunch (66/1), Howitsdone (66/1)

MADDENSTOWN may be the value in this line-up after making a positive start to his hurdling career at Punchestown this month. An extra half-mile won't do his cause any harm and there should be further improvement to come Donagh Meyler's mount now. Deal With It also took a step in the right direction over timber at Limerick and will benefit from the better surface that is forecast this afternoon, ensuring he looks the main danger. Halsafari is next best on form while first-time hurdlers Fur Elise, Miss Shoe City and Baily Thunder demand attention.